The inflatable aeroplane

Here's a fun design [h/t ToughSF]: the Venus stingray. Javid Bayandor from SUNY is acronyming it "BREEZE". Last I heard, there's a grant for it.

It's an inflatable aeroplane, so not your typical stodgy airship. It flaps around, so stays airborne that way; solar-panels and batteries would keep it aloft as long as the panels and batteries last. It should be light-enough to be launched from Earth. The main selling-point is that it is testable in Earth's atmosphere.

In practice I suspect that a big stupid zeppelin will last longer than the electronics, panels, and batteries will; especially if the clouds are made of, like, acid or something. Although: why not have that competition.

BACKDATE 6/5