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Radio Netherlands - Sustainable Zeppelins?

Airships or Zeppelins are a sustainable form of aviation. At least according to Senator Wolfgang von Zeppelin, grandson of the famous German airship pioneer Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

It’s somehow comforting that there are still von-Anythings left in the world, much less von Zeppelins.

“At present it is not possible for airships to replace airline passenger planes. Far too expensive! But Zeppelins could well have a part to play on holiday flights to destinations such as Majorca, where speed is not as important.”

Of course, Von Zeppelin is quick to point out that tourists should see the flight itself as part of the holiday.

“During the flight, passengers can enjoy space, peace and quiet, and good cuisine, to say nothing of the fantastic view. When you look at it that way, who cares if a flight to a holiday island takes a day and a half?”

I’d like to take cruise ships (and have the choice of picking what class I want to pay for) to get places. But I don’t think they do that anymore.

He points out that airships produce much less noise than traditional aircraft and that this too is a form of environmental pollution. And then there is the fact that the airship takes up far less space on the ground. No need for a runway: a humble meadow is enough to facilitate take-off and landing.

In addition, there is also the possibility of enabling people to visit vulnerable areas of natural beauty without the risk of causing any damage. Sightseers can hover above tropical rainforests or glacial lakes without causing any disturbance to the ecosystem.

There is not even the danger of a discarded Coke can falling to the ground, since the cabin is completely closed at all times. For these reasons, Senator Von Zeppelin and his backers believe they are justified in promoting their airships in the name of ’soft’ or ecologically sound tourism.

Sounds better than that stinky diesel-spewing hulk of steel, debris and oil slick that’s just sunk off the fragile coast of Antarctica yesterday.