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Does Lockheed Use Arduinos...? — Parallax Forums

Does Lockheed Use Arduinos...?

ercoerco Posts: 20,259
edited 2011-08-02 22:50 in General Discussion
$150 million airship failure last Thursday... http://www.theblaze.com/stories/this-is-the-futuristic-military-blimp-that-went-down-in-pa/

At least Goodyear's Akron & Macon (1931-35) lasted 2 years each, at a total cost under $8 million.

Comments

  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2011-08-02 19:39
    Yeah,... there's a shield for that.
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2011-08-02 19:49
    Probably a software error. Those tend to be hard on experimental aircraft. I remember seeing one of Boeing's RPV literally self-destructing on the run-way and a early F-22 prototype crashing because of them.

    I say this though, a $150,000,000.00 for a high tech gas bag? C'mon it reeks of fraud, waste and abuse. People should have went to prison over it.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-08-02 19:52
    Airships certainly seem to have a spotty record -- even excluding the Hindenburg. One of the Goodyear blimps crashed just last June:

    And that's without hydrogen being a factor. (We were speaking of lighter-than-air gasses, weren't we?) Okay, speaking of helium (awkward segue, I know), there's a real crisis brewing, due to the U.S. government's shortsighted dumping of its helium reserve:

    Helium is a non-renewable resource. Once it vents to the atmosphere, it's gone forever. My nephew, who is pursuing a doctorate in low-temperature physics, is already feeling the pinch, according to my brother. It won't be long before those "Congratulations!" and "Get Well" balloons you buy at Safeway will be dragging on the floor.

    -Phil
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-08-02 19:53
    Sure, it worked fine in the simulation!

    Pity that a $2 balloon from the grocery store can make it farther than Lockheed did!
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2011-08-02 22:50
    One has to wonder why the USA is even spending so much money on blimps. Several facts have been known for a long time.

    1. They make great radar targets.
    2. They cannot outrun bad weather.
    3. Helium is in short supply and hydrogen is dangerous.

    The Empire State Building was supposed to be an airport for blimps that would attach to the mast at the top and then people would board and depart. But they had trouble with docked blimps getting stood on end in high wind.
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