Post #3134314

2026-02-12 00:55 UTC

@flaki@flaki.social @alxd@writing.exchange as for the solar powered part, from what I remember the math is... okay on that. With current panel tech you probably can't run the airship's propulsion just off solar, but airships are actually better suited to electrification than other flying vehicles - planes and helicopters get more efficient as they use up their fuel (less weight) but airships want to maintain a consistent buoyancy and have lift to spare so a battery that stays the same weight makes their job easier

Replies (2)

@jacobcoffin@writing.exchange 2026-02-12 00:59

@flaki@flaki.social @alxd@writing.exchange Similarly they found you can basically cover the whole envelope in panels, even the underside! Clouds bounce a lot of light around and you can get decent output all over. Between all that and the much more efficient electric motors (waaay more horsepower for the same weight, including motors just for manuvering) and you can get surprisingly fast, manuverable craft with far more capacity than a plane (or several!). They might not be as fast but they can haul much more per trip.

Open ##3134315
@flaki@flaki.social 2026-02-12 05:48

@jacobcoffin@writing.exchange this was roughly my thought process, also, the combination of large surface area and high carrying capacity in the age of solar+batteries coupled with the much better electric motor tech! I do feel the "the policy environment is pretty set in favor of airplanes" part in terms of non-fiction feasibility, though they would sound like a pretty neat overland extension to large cargo ships 🤩 @alxd@writing.exchange

Open ##3134316