Quote:
Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b
The US is the world's largest producer of Helium in the world; it is a by-product of many chemical reactions, including the oil and gas industries, and is also present in large quantities in some caves, and the US has large networks of caves that contain helium pockets. I know hydrogen is easier to manufacture, but why not think about non-flammable helium for your balloons and zepplins and blimps?
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Helium is a "Listed Material" like Nickle, Titanium, and dozens of other materials. This makes acquisition of Helium very difficult. Gathering Helium from mining will only produce small amounts compared to what an airship requires. This also raises the issue of replenishing the gas "while underway" to a destination. The replenishing gas will have to be carried onboard as well.
Hydrogen can be generated virtually anywhere (even onboard the airship) and in pretty large quantities. This common availability will trump Helium's inert nature.
It was the US government's refusal to sell Germany Helium that resulted in Hydrogen being used in the Hindenburg. The same would undoubtedly be true for any "private venture" airship.
The Helium repositories are mostly in Texas and Oklahoma, a fair distance from Colorado for gas transport in the Twilight2000 world. Getting the gas depends on whether the Government even controls the Strategic Reserve Sites anymore and would they be willing to part with the gas. Thus acquiring the gas could be an adventure in itself.