this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2026
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xkcd #3298: Aerospace Flowchart

Title text:

Someday, we will find the problem that goes with this solution.

Transcript:

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Source: https://xkcd.com/3298/

explainxkcd for #3298

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[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

And name them Akron and Macon.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

i was going to name them after match companies but i like your idea

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh you must be European, if you're concerned about fires aboard airships. American airships don't burn; we've never been stupid enough to use hydrogen as a lifting gas. USS Akron and USS Macon both crashed, much of the crew of one froze to death and the other proved surprisingly survivable. Compare that to the Hindenberg or R-101.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

No we use good old fashioned methane yes sir patented blimp gas here

I have spent the last year trying to find copies online of a musical some friends wrote while I was in college. It's called Hindenburg: Oh the Humanity!

I've heard of methane used to inflate gas bags to lift sunken boats but I haven't seen it used as an aviation lifting gas.