Should Airships Make A Comeback?

Blimps and airships might be relics of the past, but could they help save the future? Head to https://www.odoo.com/r/veritasium to start building your own website for free.

If you’re looking for a molecular modeling kit, try Snatoms – a kit I invented where the atoms snap together magnetically – https://ve42.co/SnatomsV

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Thank you to Eli Dourado for letting us explore the argument he describes in his article: https://ve42.co/Dourado

A huge thank you to Dan Grossman and Nick Allman for their time, help, and expertise.

Also a massive thank you to those who helped us understand the world of modern airships, and provided valuable feedback - Prof. Barry Prentice, Gennadiy Verba, Prof.
Christoph Pflaum, Heather Roszczyk, Dr. Casey Handmer, Richard Van Trueren, & Thibault Proux.

We are also grateful for the collaboration of the companies who are working hard to make this comeback happen - Atlas LTA, Buoyant Aircraft Systems International, Hybrid Air Vehicles, LTA Research, & Flying Whales.

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References:

How Airships Could Overcome a Century of Failure, Bloomberg Originals via YouTube - https://ve42.co/AirshipsCoF

Why the Airship May Be the Future of Air Travel, Undecided with Matt Ferrell via YouTube - https://ve42.co/FutureAirships

Airship, Wikipedia - https://ve42.co/AirshipWiki

Handmer, C. (2020). A quick note on airships. Casey Handmer’s Blog - https://ve42.co/Handmer2020

UNCTAD (2020). Review of Maritime Transport 2020 - https://ve42.co/RMT2020

National Transportation Research Center (2023). Freight Analysis Framework Version 5 (FAF5) - https://ve42.co/FAF5

Hybrid Air Vehicles (2023). HAV - https://ve42.co/HAV

LTA Research (2023). Lighter Than Air (LTA) Research - https://ve42.co/LTAResearch

OceanSkyCruises (2023). North Pole Expedition - OceanSkyCruises - https://ve42.co/NPExpedition

Flying Whales (2023). Flying Whales - https://ve42.co/FlyingWhales

Buoyant Aircraft Systems International (2023). BASI - https://ve42.co/BASI

Atlas LTA (2023). Atlas Electric Airships | Atlas LTA Airships - https://ve42.co/AtlasLTA

Prentice, B. (2021). Hydrogen gas-fuelled airships could spur development in remote communities. The Conversation - https://ve42.co/HydrogenAirships

Grossman, D. (2009). The Hindenburg Disaster. Airships - https://ve42.co/Hindenburg1

Hindenburg Disaster, Wikipedia - https://ve42.co/HindenburgWiki

What happened to the Hindenburg?, Jared Owen via Youtube - https://ve42.co/Owen2019

National Museum of the U.S. Navy. USS Akron (ZRS-4) - https://ve42.co/USSAkron

USS Akron, Wikipedia - https://ve42.co/USSAkronWiki

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Special thanks to our Patreon supporters:
Adam Foreman, Amadeo Bee, Anton Ragin, Balkrishna Heroor, Benedikt Heinen, Bernard McGee, Bill Linder, Burt Humburg, Dave Kircher, Diffbot, Evgeny Skvortsov, Gnare, Jesse Brandsoy, John H. Austin, Jr., john kiehl, Josh Hibschman, Juan Benet, KeyWestr, Lee Redden, Marinus Kuivenhoven, Mario Bottion, MaxPal, Meekay, meg noah, Michael Krugman, Orlando Bassotto, Paul Peijzel, Richard Sundvall, Sam Lutfi, Stephen Wilcox, Tj Steyn, TTST, Ubiquity Ventures

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Written by Casper Mebius & Derek Muller
Directed by Casper Mebius
Edited by Jack Saxon
Filmed by Derek Muller, Jamie MacLeod, Han Evans, & Raquel Nuno
Animation by Mike Radjabov & Fabio Albertelli
Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images, Pond5, & Envato Elements
Music from Epidemic Sound & Pond5
Produced by Casper Mebius, Derek Muller, & Han Evans

More footage & photos from:
Thermite Rail Welding video by dulevoz via YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNjosF789X4

O’Rourke, T. (2016). Chronicle Covers: When the Hindenburg burst into flames. San Francisco Chronicle - https://ve42.co/Hindenburg2

Wind turbine blade transport video by DOLL Fahrzeugbau via YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aPXuap0LZw

Wind turbine blade transport through mountains video by CGTN via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dtUrY8_1CM

Former Airship Hangar by Stefan Kühn - https://ve42.co/Aerium