Okay but, is it… meant to look like that?

[dukeduke@mastodon.social]

@Nickiquote Baby's got back! ...er, front?

[anguadelphine@mk.absturztau.be]

@Nickiquote@mstdn.social

If it goes military, they'll have to rename it the US Ass Force.
Wonder where the bomb bay doors will be?
Ths would have made Strangelove sooo much more funny.

[moving_pictures@metalhead.club]

@Nickiquote If it stays up for more than five days, call your doctor?

[vonxylofon@witter.cz]

@calcius @Nickiquote onlypropellers

[no0ne@mastodon.social]

@Nickiquote

[spacemagick@mastodon.social]

@vonxylofon @calcius @Nickiquote
ROTF!

[kameleonnn@mastodon.social]

@Nickiquote mmmmmm

[jetlagjen@gts.phillipsuk.org]

@pascaline @Nickiquote I like to imagine it's similar to the Emperor's New Clothes.

Maybe the original designer did it on purpose, maybe they didn't. But once it got presented with enough gravitas, nobody wanted to be the one to point it out. Some were too embarrassed to admit they thought that, others were driven to play along because omg flying bum! But ultimately, a whole chain of people saw it, knew exactly what they were looking at, and said "yes, that will do nicely."

[chloeg@mastodon.art]

@Nickiquote is it piloted by Huw Jass?

[swope@mstdn.plus]

@ShiitakeToast

This 2025 paper proposes an 80% hydrogen / 20% helium semi-rigid airship where the helium is positioned as a protective buffer around critical components.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405896325022232

@passwordsarehard4 @Nickiquote @BobLefridge

[chloeg@mastodon.art]

@Nickiquote also do you fly it by the seat of your pants?

[shiitaketoast@beige.party]

@BobLefridge @passwordsarehard4 @swope @Nickiquote That’s pretty cool, actually.

[raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie]

@AnguaDelphine @Nickiquote
For niche supply transport to places far from attack that have no road, airstrip or water access.

Very limited application.

The USA had Zepp -like (but helium not hydrogen) aircraft carriers. Both destroyed by weather. This has the same flaw. The biplanes hung from trapezes and could dock without stalling. Launch was simple.

[gaznjax@social.vivaldi.net]

@Nickiquote

If you're of a prudish disposition........Just don't look up.

[su_liam@mas.to]

@Nickiquote Evolution, engineering and aesthetics frequently settle on similar forms. The butt is one of the canonical perfect shapes of the universe. Accept it. Embrace it!

No. Let me edit that…
Accept the butt. Embrace the butt. Love the butt!

[twiteryeanot@mastodon.scot]

@Nickiquote are they having a laugh?

Had to check time hadn't slipped back to 1'st April...

[chris_e_simpson@hachyderm.io]

@Nickiquote crewed by crack troops

[pascaline@mastodon.nl]

@jetlagjen

It is usually something like that, yes.
It's fun to think about it, but frustrating at times, too. It happens in so many fields, even in simple signs

@Nickiquote

[kbm0@mastodon.social]

@Nickiquote Helium filled and diesel propelled AFAICT. Helium is a nonrenewable resource and we really shouldn't be wasting it.

[chris_e_simpson@hachyderm.io]

@Nickiquote ...and a rear admiral