February 2, 2026
Blimp my ride, but make it hydrogen
Flying Around the World in under 80 Days
Hydrogen blimp dream sparks cheers, nitpicks, and sailor flexes
TLDR: A plan proposes a solar-powered hydrogen airship to fly itself around the world in under 80 days. Commenters cheer the ambition, nitpick a broken link, and compare it to a 40‑day sailing record—setting up a fun clash between dreamy engineering, safety worries, and speed flexes that matter for real-world viability.
An audacious plan dubbed Avis LXXX wants a solar‑powered, hydrogen airship to autonomously circle the globe in under 80 days, gliding on trade winds and cruising around 10 m/s. The pitch covers lightweight skins, a 4‑meter craft, and overflight legality—cue the crowd. OP drops “Project to Circumnavigate…” while fans chime in: “Delightful read,” plus a very internet moment—someone notices a broken link and it instantly becomes the star of the thread.
The vibe splits between dreamers and skeptics. Hydrogen triggers predictable Hindenburg jokes and “is this safe?” side‑eye, countered by history nerds pointing to Torres Quevedo and his careful designs, and solar heads citing the Airbus Zephyr doing weeks aloft. Then a sailor crashes the party with a flex: a record‑setting trimaran nearly did the world in 40 days, foiling at 100 km/h—translation: speed bragging rights are complicated.
Meanwhile, design fans applaud the clean site, and route geeks debate east‑to‑west wind hacks versus geopolitics. The spiciest subplot? The broken link versus balloon math: fix your URL, then fix the sky. It’s classic internet—big ideas, bigger vibes, and a chorus trying to steer a tiny blimp between memes and meteorology. Call it modern Jules Verne energy with comment‑section chaos. All aboard!
Key Points
- •The project proposes an autonomous hydrogen airship (“Avis LXXX”) to circumnavigate the globe in under 80 days.
- •A target average speed of about 10 m/s is set, based on a 40,000 km equatorial distance.
- •Buoyant flight with hydrogen lift, electric propulsion, and solar panel recharging is proposed for multi-week endurance.
- •Composite enclosures using low-permeability polymers (PVA, EVOH) and protective layers are suggested to contain hydrogen for ~11 weeks.
- •Route planning will leverage East-to-West trade winds and consider legal overflight of countries, prioritizing low-hostility corridors.