Reply To: Richard Branson – Virgin Pledge

[Aeronaut]

JimmyT wrote: The point in packaging a unit in a modular shipping unit is not to provide mobile power. It’s to make the power units easy and inexpensive to transport to the site where they are to be utilized.

I fully agree with the need for standardized modular form factors, Jimmy. The standard shipping container is the best current candidate due to the weight of the frame required to lift 2 tons of mass (64 tons) by crane. Since it could fit in air freight (if it wasn’t so durn heavy), two units would be at or near even a 747-400F’s 140 ton payload weight limit. What a picture, huh? Now, let’s imagine how we’re going to load the container ship- these go in the bottom of the hold to keep the ship stable. Somewhere between 100 and 1,000 FF pods may be enough mass to require sailing with an “empty” hold and deck.

Licking the mass challenge is going to be the key to economical shipping and wider application of FF.