"using it like a sea anchor... interesting concept... I was thinking that the train of thought was heading steampunkish as a primary/supplementary motivation force... but as a supplemental to keep it pointing the right direction... though traditionally one seeks to point the nose into the wind. think of dart effect. the fins at the back of the airbag will have the natural desire to act as stabilizers."

Putting sails on a zeppelin won't add any motivative force anyway, because it's already more or less riding through the wind as it is. The only reason why sails move a boat is because the air moves at a different rate or in a different direction than the water, the water provides drag and the wind opposes that drag. In a zeppelin the air would be providing both the propulsion and the drag, and since the craft and the sails are both moving through the same medium, there would be no net gain.

With that said, though, keeping the zeppelin either nose or tail to the wind (depending on how you arrange the sails and tail fins) might be worth it anyway if it can keep you safer in bad weather.

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True, helis are the more 'tactically' sound option, but when it comes down to logistics and practicalities, planes have strong points too.
better range, fuel economy, freight-capabilities, larger versions ( such as freight carrying ones ) are more widely available, and they're apparently much easier to fly.


but all this talk of practicalities begs the question... where are you going to get a helicopter in the first place?


for the sake of balance between practical and tactically sound, What about a gyrocopter?
they're like a cross between a moped and a mini helicopter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFNc1iY8wi0

you won't be carrying freight in it, but it'll get you and possibly a friend around in a hurry, and relative safety. ( well from zeds anyways... gravity is another issue )

for 10k USD you can get a basic gyrocopter and professional lessons ( which aren't actually required by law, that's how easy they are to fly! )

can fly at up to 4000 meters high ( 12200 feet ) have a range of ~ 700-1000 kilometers ( but these stats would be for a higher quality one... for 10k i'd say it would be a lot less. ) and even the cheap ones get decent mileage ( better than a car anyways ) at ~ 50 mile per gallon.
( the prius is the most fuel efficient affordable car, costing ~27000 and getting 45 miles per gallon in the city )

seems to me like it's a decent compromise, what you think?
easy to fly, good fuel economy, small ones can do a 'jump-takeoff' so you can land on small roofs and in front gardens, practical ( in that they're easy to fly, and it's possible to obtain for mere mortals @ < 10k ) sure you can't carry much, but with a side-arm, bob and time on your side...who needs to? =P

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