Yes yes, we know hydrogen is flammable and stuff. However I think there'd be nothing wrong with a weather balloon that used the hydrogen keeping it aloft to power fuel cell and give it a controlled descent.

After all, helium prices are expected to rise.
-- Madai, Apr 29 2013

my original blather......... Your_20own_20Vulcan_20bomber
[not_morrison_rm, May 01 2013]

[+] Helium is an unreplaceable commodity on Earth so I don't see why we're using it up in the first place.

Anyways brilliant idea. I think Honda's FC tech has fuel cell weight down to 1lb/kW, so added to an EM (also'ish at 1hp/lb) the weight is equivalent to an IC engine of the same power, at 2-3x's the efficiency; plus better weight distribution.
-- FlyingToaster, Apr 29 2013


Er, I have bored everyone already with hydrogen balloon/fuel cell, but I was blathering on about Biefeld–Brown drive, as it's the lightest.
-- not_morrison_rm, Apr 29 2013



random, halfbakery