discuss amongst yourselves....

so today's question is:  where do you think air transport falls on the line of economical shipping options?  there are obviously trade-offs depending on circumstances, but in general, what do you think?  justify your answer.

the background:  lukejaywalker is fleshing out some background for a steampunk novel, and has decided not to have airplanes, although he does have dirigibles.  i told him that i thought airplane technology would have been developed even if, as he surmised, WW1 happened in 1890, and the US went into a severe economic depression for 30-40 years due to European powers defaulting on their loans.  one of the reasons i gave him was that air shipping was actually pretty darned economical for certain goods and services, better than trains and automobiles, even, although i don't know that they'd ever outrank ocean ships in economics.  now... i'm not so sure of my position, and it's bugging me, and i turn to you, my flist, to help me sort this out.

i still maintain that airplanes would be more economical than dirigibles for shipping, and that given that the majority of the research was done, the railroad industry would spur the development of gas-powered engines (which are needed for flight), thus fixing any lack produced by setting the Great War earlier than usual.  the rest of my arguments... i'm just not sure.


discuss, people, i want to see wild speculation in the comments!

-bs

soldier lists...

ok, so... i've been remiss in sending kentbob anything overseas, and i know BK's friend sparky is going soon.  this post is a list of stuff i'd like to send, particularly since it's coming up Christmas.  i haven't heard from KB for a while, so i'm going to have to wing it.  i need to talk to BK or sparky sooner rather than later about where/when to send the mail, because that's a bit tricky when you're doing the pre-mission stuff.

kentbob has 4-6 people in his 'unit' that he rooms with, and will share any goodies i send to him.

the one thing he's asked for is chew.  i can provide that.
i'd also like to provide:
*moccassins
*gingerbread cookies
*Christmas ornaments, and perhaps a small tree and decorations for their hooch (but it has to be small, since it's already crowded)
*one or two quilt comforters, since it gets cold over there in the winter
*coffee

he's asked that i not send a big package, because he, himself, doesn't want a lot of stuff, however, i'd like to send something to entertain him and his buddies.  anyone have any ideas?

i'm not sure what to do for sparky at all, save:
*gingerbread cookies (always welcome, i'm sure)

BK, you and your husband got any ideas/ better information on what he wants/ has room for/ needs?  he seems to already have a good selection of reading material with him, if i've understood his IMs to me.

-bs, mentally organizing Things She Still Needs To Do This Year