Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with blimp

Would a blimp "filled" with vacuum float?

stilgar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:00:13 -0800

If you were to take a blimp like structure and instead of filling it with hydrogen, or helium, or hot air, you instead "filled it" with vacuum, that is you removed everything from the inside (think mercury vacuum), would that structure float in earths atmosphere...This is driving me nuts, help me physics!

How do they get blimps from event to event?

remthewanderer — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:00:56 -0800

How do they get blimps from event to event? I am watching the world series and I saw the goodyear blimp. How does the goodyear blimp get from event to event? Does it just fly very very slowly starting on Monday so that it arrives at it's next destination by the following Saturday?

I originally thought that they might deflate a blimp, ship it to where it needs to be and then re inflate it. But from what I have seen on the goodyear website or the metlife website that does not seem to be the case.

Can anyone tell me specifically how a blimp gets around the country?

Let me fly away in a ship!

tommorris — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:07:27 -0800

Where does one go to buy an airship? Once I have reached the level of wealth of a Bill Gates or a Google co-founder, I'd like to buy an airship. Could anyone shed light on where exactly I can buy one and what sort of price range I should expect to pay?

I know this may seem slightly extravagant, but I'd just like to know. I don't see any listed on eBay or Craigslist.

What RC blimp should I buy?

Hildago — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:51:01 -0800

Can you recommend a good remote-controlled blimp? Requirements include that it should be buoyed by some easily-obtainable gas (grocery store helium?), that it should not be rinky-dink in construction, and that it should be totally fun and awesome to play with in the park. I have appropriated $100 for this project and by God I am prepared to spend every penny.

What's the float?

mwhybark — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:10:29 -0800

What is the annualized cost to operate a Zeppelin NT? Please take crew,maintenance, facilities leasing, fuel, and insurance into account. Do not include the cost of the ship itself. Assume the ship will be used as a passenger vessel, as is the case today in Germany and Switzerland.