In reply to the comment from Andreas...
Andreas G wrote:
Hey Everybody, great to see that my Blogpost started a small discussion.
...it certainly did.
Now I've got a related question - I remember from learning about aircraft years ago that the reason most aeroplanes are white is because it reflects the suns heat and prevents the aircraft overheating. There was a story about Pepsi sponsoring a Concorde and having it painted blue, but the new livery meant that the plane built up so much heat that it was unable to fly!
For the same reason Stealth Aircraft are black, as the plane does not emit so much heat and thus avoids detection. So the question is...
...
would a black envelope store heat better and increase lift?By this I mean, if we assume that heated helium would increase lift (superheat) could having a black envelope help maintain this higher temperature? The suns heat would still warm the envelope, the black colouring would prevent the heat dispersing too quickly and an internal lift gas heating system could all combine to give a lifting capability which exceeds the size of the envelope.
If I'm wrong - tell me why
If I'm right - you can name the first black blimp after me!
