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"The completed testing schedule proves the scalable vertical takeoff and landing technology of a full-scale Aeroscraft that can be deployed globally for the heavy-lift operations and massive-cargo construction and transportation projects.
It also has oil & gas exploration on that page, as an industry which needs the aircraft.
ENERGY DIVISION The current trend in wind turbine design is to build ever-larger turbine units. The industry has demonstrated that building one larger turbine (7MW+) is more economical than building multiple smaller systems (2MW+) with an equivalent total power output. However, if larger-sized wind components are produced, the current transportation infrastructure (trucks, helicopters, ships, rail, etc.) would have extreme difficulty transporting them, because these vehicles are already experiencing problems delivering much smaller existing components. The Aeros Energy Division was created to address this current logistic problem by creating a new transportation solution called the Aeroscraft.
Originally posted by kkrattiger
***Are there problems delivering wind-turbine components presently, via trucks, helicopters, ships, and rail? Problems such that wind turbines can't be made much larger, as it would render them undeliverable?
Originally posted by kkrattiger
reply to post by boomer135
What an experience that must have been for the train dispatcher. Wow, what does one do after a screwup like that!
Yes, please DO find the link. Trains are a bit of an interest of mine (well, railroad history, actually), particularly the Santa Fe Route & pictures of the era, & trademarks/logos from 1870-1890s. You say it's your "day job". So no nightshifts? I wonder if train conductors spending nights going over the vast Western U.S. have any good UFO stories... Or any UfO silver blimp sightings.
Omaha, Neb., September 29, 2009 – For centuries, the wind's energy has been harnessed to help grind corn and bring water out of the ground. Today, wind energy is helping Americans become less dependent on foreign oil by providing alternative energy sources, so it is fitting that the wind energy industry continues to ship more products with Union Pacific Railroad. In addition to being safer and more cost effective than trucks, freight trains are nearly four times more fuel efficient and three times cleaner than trucks in terms of air emissions. "The wind power business is an emerging market and we are proving to be a valuable transportation service provider in this growing industry," said Byron Willis, Union Pacific executive director – International Business. "Customer service, cost efficiency and safe transport have helped us grow our business into the complete logistics solution it is today."
Union Pacific provides numerous advantages for its wind energy customers:
• With its wealth of experience, the railroad has a clear understanding of the wind industry's unique shipping requirements and works closely with customers to engineer new equipment.
• Union Pacific's rail transportation solution is considerably less expensive due to simplified logistics and economies of scale by working with its Union Pacific Distribution Services (UPDS) subsidiary.
• Union Pacific owns its own tracks and does not require the state-by-state permitting necessary for trucks.
• Its trains operate in a more controlled and safer environment. • Moving wind turbine components via Union Pacific trains helps reduce highway congestion; it takes considerably more trucks to deliver the same number of wind turbines.
• Union Pacific can move one ton 830 miles on a single gallon of fuel, the equivalent of a passenger vehicle getting more than 400 miles per gallon.
Union Pacific was the first railroad to offer a door-to-door transportation service for wind turbine components. The company began shipping wind turbine components in 2003. The parts that comprise wind turbine assemblies - towers, blades, nacelles (the turbine engine) and hubs - usually are transported in 40- to 60-rail car unit trains. Wind component dimensions and weights are perfectly suited for rail. Blades can range in length from 95-202 feet with the most common lengths being 140-160 feet long. Nacelles are extremely heavy, weighing in at 60-95 tons and the towers are shipped in three- or four-piece sections depending on the finished tower's height. Interest in transporting wind turbine components has grown over the years and in 2007 Union Pacific joined American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). "According to AWEA and our own research, many of the ports served by Union Pacific are expanding investments and capacity to make it easier to unload shipments of wind energy components and equipment. These investments along with those by Union Pacific are critical to create new sources of energy – a top priority for our nation," said Eric Butler, Union Pacific vice president and general manager - Industrial Products. "The combination of our in-transit visibility, inventory management and single-source billing makes it easy for customers to do business with us," said Beth Whited, Union Pacific Distribution Services assistant vice president and general manager. "Customers have one contact, one rate, door-to-door shipping and door-to-door monitoring through UP and UPDS."
Pulling in to get fuel and getting back out again is a major production between the truck and their pilot cars.