Aircruise
Aircruise is a concept hydrogen airship[1] envisioned as the combination of cruise ship and luxury hotel,[2] designed by the UK company Seymourpowell. Its design director is Nick Talbot. It has attracted the attention of Samsung Construction and Trading, for whom a concept video was produced.[3][2]
Specifications
The Aircruise would be a solar and hydrogen fuel cell-powered airship.[4] According to its design specifications, it would be 265 m (869 ft) tall containing 330,000 m3 (12,000,000 cu ft) of air and would carry a payload of 396 t (390 LT; 437 ST). It is designed to carry about 100 passengers with a flight crew of 6, 2 of whom are flight engineers, and another 14 supporting staff to look after passengers.[5] It would accommodate a total of 20 crew members.[6]
It will have glass bottom floors for passengers to view the land and sea beneath.[7]
Its speed would depend on head or tail winds speeds, but without wind, it would supposedly be capable of traveling at 100 to 150 km/h (62 to 93 mph),[5] which would allow the Aircruise to travel from London to New York in 37 hours and from Los Angeles to Hong Kong[4] or Shanghai[6] in 4 days.
It would fly up to 12,000 ft (3,700 m) but could also fly at an attitude of a few hundred feet for sightseeing or other reasons.[6]
Critical response
The Aircruise concept has received generally favourable criticism. For example, The Daily Telegraph says it could herald a new era of luxury travel.[8] Coverage in The Scotsman welcomed it as attractive for its environmental friendliness.[9]
Concerns have been expressed regarding its use of hydrogen as its lifting agent, which has prompted references to the Hindenburg disaster.[citation needed]
Eco friend
Compared to ordinary high carbon emission cruise ships, which have 3 times the emission of a Boeing 747 per passenger and 36 times the emission of the Eurostar per passenger.[2] The Aircruise is thus claimed to be an eco friendly alternative with its zero emission design.[2][4]
References
- ↑ Aircruise – A sustainable way to travel in utmost luxury
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Seymourpowell unveils eco-friendly Aircruise design
- ↑ Seymourpowell introduces the Aircruise - a clipper in the clouds
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Aircruise: A Sustainable and Luxurious Way to Travel
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 News Australia
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Flying to New York? Then why not go by luxury airship (but it will take you 37 hours)
- ↑ Aircruise From London To New York In 37hrs (In Concept-Land Only)
- ↑ Aircruise: giant hydrogen airships could herald a new era in luxury travel
- ↑ 'Slow is the new fast' say the designers of cutting edge airship
