karen
Wednesday, 9 January 2008, 3:44 am
QUOTE(Rousseau @ Wednesday, 9 January 2008, 3:38 am)

Neat musak...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ContrailSome pollution, but mostly water vapor.
What's wrong with huge solar powered airships ? Get them high enough and into the jetstream, the nacelle with passengers is protected from the high altitude UV by the shading canopy of the blimp, and the solar powered engines should be able to punt the dirigible along at a fair clip.
Sure, it'll be slower than a jet, but if it's quieter and more spacious, with an on-board band, entertainment lounge and cocktail bar, who cares ? The voyage should be part of the pleasure, and it'll be faster than a boat. Plus, high atmosphere has less pertubations than down low, and the only CO produced will be from the manufacturing of it. Methane from farting passengers will be more of an atmospheric pollution problem......

Fantastic idea! You should send it to Richard Branson (Virgin). He loves balloons so will surely see the benefits of this kind of travel, he has the money to invest in R&D and he's always open to new ideas!
Sorry,I haven't got his land-line number though!
Thanks for the link and the info - I feel a bit better now!