Aircruise: Difference between revisions
added Category:Hoaxes using HotCat |
|||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
[[Category:Hotel terminology]] |
[[Category:Hotel terminology]] |
||
[[Category:Cruise ships]] |
[[Category:Cruise ships]] |
||
[[Category:Hoaxes]] |
|||
Revision as of 14:00, 22 June 2012
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] The concept was later revealed to be simply a promotion stunt by Seymourpowell.
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 long tons; 437 short tons). 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]
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]
Media Stunt
Concerns have been expressed regarding its use of hydrogen as its lifting agent, which has prompted references to the Hindenburg disaster. The concept soon emerged to be little more than a self-promoting stunt by Seymourpowell.[10][11] The design was also criticized to be totally not aerodynamic and will waste a lot of energy against wind.[12][13]
References
- ^ Aircruise – A sustainable way to travel in utmost luxury
- ^ a b c d Seymourpowell unveils eco-friendly Aircruise design
- ^ Seymourpowell introduces the Aircruise - a clipper in the clouds
- ^ a b c The Aircruise: A Sustainable and Luxurious Way to Travel
- ^ a b News Australia
- ^ a b c 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
- ^ Hydrogen Airship Nonsense
- ^ http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/wanderer/2010/02/04/aircruise-airship-a-whole-lot-of-hot-air/
- ^ Hydrogen Airship Nonsense
- ^ http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/wanderer/2010/02/04/aircruise-airship-a-whole-lot-of-hot-air/