Airships may finally prove useful for transporting cargo
The problem of variable buoyancy is being overcome
IN 1783 THE Montgolfier brothers lofted a trio of farm animals over Versailles in a hot-air balloon, in what remains the most iconic demonstration of the power of lighter-than-air craft. Since then such vehicles have adapted to carry ever more—and ever more distinguished—passengers. But they have rarely been used to transport cargo.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “The sky’s the limit”
From the November 2nd 2024 edition
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