Episode 23: Air vehicles

This week we turn our eyes skyward as wondrous vehicles fill the heavens with explorers no doubt.  Join us as we discuss the best vehicles for exploration and travel.   0:00 types of vehicles --exploration --long distance --bad land or water access 3:30 surveillance -- drones -- balloons -- limits of drones and how to surmount them. 10:30 Powered Parasails and Powered Hang gliders. 16:30 The personal Jet wing - Yves Rossy: Rocket Man 17:15 Jet packs historically, earlier FW editions, and possible workable jet packs 24:45 When things go wrong - Ballistic Parachute 25:40 Wing Suits mention - we discussed these extensively in the Fringe Vehicles podcast 28:30 Aircraft - Fixed Wing 32:45 Lighter than air ships Non-rigid Goodyear Blimp Semi-rigid The current feasible limit for air ship cargo is 450 tons.  However there are no existing airships that can carry this amount. Rigid 39:15 Supertech Airship Vaccuum lift airship Tarzan at the Earth's Core 41:30 Hot lift Airship Aerogel 43:15 Airship in action in FW adventure 46:15 Why long range vehicles have to be big 48:30 What kinds of airplanes have proven durability Douglas DC-3 C-130 Hercules 50:45 How to maintain aircraft - does it take a village? -- roll out airstrip 55:00 Some worlds just love airplanes --Thunderbirds --Crimson Skies -- Tale Spin --Bushwacking --Northern Exposure 59:15 Helicopters 01:03:00 Blue Sky vehicles --Mecha --Dragons --Dinotopia --Gor --Wind Whales of Ishmael --Banshees of Avatar --Brooms --Flying Carpets --Celestial Matters --Integral Trees --human powered flight