Context:
Recently, a few companies are attempting to control the buoyancy of airships — a longstanding challenge that has prevented their use for cargo transportation.
Relevance:
Facts for prelims
Overview of Airships
Airships are a type of lighter-than-air aircraft that have played a unique role in the history of aviation. These vertical-lift vehicles achieve flight through the use of buoyant gases, such as helium or hydrogen, which are less dense than the surrounding air. Known for their distinctive bullet-shaped design, airships were once considered the future of aerial travel in the early 20th century.
Types of Airships
- Non-rigid Airships (Blimps): These airships lack an internal structural framework and maintain their shape only when fully inflated.
- Semi-rigid Airships: These feature some form of structural support but rely largely on gas pressure to maintain their shape.
- Rigid Airships: Constructed with a complete metal framework, rigid airships maintain their shape regardless of the gas pressure within.
Components of Airships
- Hull: The large balloon-like body of the airship, traditionally filled with a lifting gas.
- Gondola: The cabin attached to the underside of the hull where passengers and crew are carried.
- Propulsion System: Includes engines and rudders that control the airship’s movement and direction.
How Airships Work
The principle of flight for airships is similar to that of a helium balloon. The key to their buoyancy lies in using a gas that is lighter than the air around them:
- Hydrogen: Initially favored for its lightness and ease of production, hydrogen’s highly flammable nature made it a risky choice.
- Helium: Now the preferred choice due to its non-combustible properties, although more expensive and less readily available than hydrogen.
Current Uses and Advantages
Despite their decline in general transportation, airships still find niche applications across various sectors:
- Advertising: Often used as flying billboards due to their size and slow flight capabilities.
- Aerial Observation: Utilized by scientists for environmental research and by military forces for surveillance due to their ability to hover and provide stable platforms.
- Tourism: Offers unique leisure experiences, giving tourists a slow-moving panoramic view of landscapes.
Environmental Impact
- Reduced Pollution: Airships are considered eco-friendlier than airplanes as they do not require large amounts of fossil fuels to stay aloft. Their operation leads to significantly lower emissions of pollutants.
-Source: Indian Express
