Tourism Queensland staged the eighth National Conference on Tourism Futures, themed ‘Leaders Driving Innovation’, this week in Southbank, Brisbane.
Among the speakers was Nick Talbot, Design Director of UK based Seymourpowell. Mr. Talbot is involved with the visionary transport concept know as Aircruise – a giant, vertical airship powered by clean energy and designed to carry travellers in style.
The concept design for a hotel in the sky offers huge internal spaces offering room for living, dining and relaxing. The initial design proposes a bar/lounge zone, four duplex apartments, a penthouse and five smaller apartments.
The Aircruise is 265 metres tall and will be lifted by Hydrogen gas. With the volume of the main envelope calculated at 330,000 cubic metres, AirCruise will be able to life 396 tonnes.
The idea of a hydrogen filled airship could conjure up images of the ill-fated Hindenburg airship, but it was proved that it was the flammable aluminium powder based paint varnish coating the airship, not the hydrogen, that started the fire. Hydrogen is nonetheless very flammable so each of the 4 external envelopes will contain modular self-sealing lifting bags, ensuring safe flight even with a major external skin rupture.
Large PEM hydrogen fuel cells will provide on board power and some drinking water. Flexible solar panels will cover the upper part of the envelope, assisting with primary power generation.
The AirCruise would transport 100 guests from London to New York in a leisurely 37 hours and would also accommodate six flight crew including two flight engineers, plus 14 support staff to operate the hotel.
