This was on the news tonight! Maybe not too practical, but looks like fun for sure! Man crosses English Channel in chair carried by helium balloons - Times Online enjoy! Barbara
Helium is so boring, and a Finite Resource (link). He should have used hydrogen produced by electrolysis from solar cells. Then after arriving, he could have lit on fire the balloon strings, instant fireworks. (if lit up at night)
While a chair attached to balloons is pretty wacky, dirigibles are a much more efficient means of travel than boats, planes, or cars. Not sure about trains. Note that it was the bag sealant (a chemical closely related to rocket fuel) that burned in the Hindenburg disaster, not the hydrogen (which being lighter than air mostly just escaped); and that most of the deaths were people who jumped, while most of the people who did not jump survived. Balloons are not especially useful for travel since they only drift with the wind. But they are fun. I took a ride in a hot-air balloon once in Albuquerque, and it was pretty cool. Albuquerque has an unusual topographical/meteorological situation, which makes it possible on most days to land very near your starting point merely by adjusting your altitude.
Mythbusters reproduced this early in their shows. Also, hydrogen needs to be mixed with about 2 parts oxygen for every part hydrogen to explode, or else, it just burns clean like a candle wick, tiny blue flame. Which is why a ballon filled with hydrogen, when lit and the flame 'pops' the balloon, it makes for a nice blue ball of flame that lasts a bit. No big explosion.
Perhaps with a tail wind. Dirigibles have a huge amount of drag to overcome when working against a headwind. Dirigibles are also limited in how much they can carry. If you want to carry heavy loads, they have to get really, really big. Large boats (ships) tend to be very efficient when kept to reasonable speeds, and due to the greater density of water, can easily carry heavy loads. Trains are very efficient, but you have to build and maintain the track system. The cause of this disaster is still being debated. While it is certain that the bag sealant contributed to the intense fire, the current best theories suggest that violent maneuvering caused a structural failure, resulting in a hydrogen leak. Free hydrogen mixed with air and collected at the top of the envelop, where it was ignited by static discharge from weather. Tom
Over land, dirigibles can carry heavier loads than any other form of transportation. Yes, they need to be big to do so. And, yes, navigation requires considering the weather. I think it would be cool to go up in a dirigible.
Care to elucidate? The guy had more balls than brains. When I go up in a balloon it's always going to be with an experienced, professional balloonist.
