: Lighter-than-air advocates are pushing a series of new ideas for modern Zeppelins:

@ NORAD wants airships carrying radars to detect attacks by aircraft or missiles.

@ The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization wants to arm Zeppelins with missiles to shoot down cruise missiles. (Nobody thinks this can be done as cheaply as the BMDO thinks it can be.)

@ Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory wants large tethered aerostats.

@ Rumors are circulating of a huge "black airship" flying at Area 51.

@ The Army has visions of huge Zeppelins carrying companies of M1 tanks to distant conflicts.--Stephen V Cole