folk, this has been discussed a hundred times over the last 3 yrs (yes, it is that old):
It is a (DARPA) project aimed to transport 1000 tns over 12k+ nautical miles (22k km) at any time, and it has been internally funded.
Skunk Works (that is the vid; the group that created among others the U-2 and JSF planes), but also Walrus HULA (Hybrid Ultra Large Aircraft, dead,
http://www.gizmag.com/watermark.php?p=4538_6090532646.jpg) and Aeroscrat (
http://www.aerosml.com/Aeroscraft%20Info.asp) are some of the various spring offs, and the aviation week article had it all:
January 31, 2006 Chief Test Pilot Eric P. Hansen flew for the first time this amazing hybrid airship prototype. Designed to be the best of two worlds by retaining the high speed of conventional aircraft and lifting capacity of aerostatic aircraft, critics say the hybrid airships represent the worst of both worlds in that such craft require a runway for take-off and landing, are difficult to control and protect on the ground, and have relatively poor aerodynamic performance. Up until now, no hybrid airship design has ever been developed past the initial experimental stages.
Here what to expect:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123123647Rattler
