As beautiful as I think this concept is and as intriguing as the design is to my imagination, it has fundamental design flaws which I cannot ignore, therefore these flaws needed inspection and a redesign process, while maintaining the overall look of the model, as well as the fantasy. Also, I wanted to incorporate some naval concepts to the design as well, such as a rudder, possibly 2 (front and back), while keeping in mind that these features need to work in the air, rather than in water. I`m the kind of guy that watches starwars and says “there’s no way spaceships could maneuver like that in outerspace!!” immediately after watching a fight with a lighsaber wielding jedi who jumps 40 feet in the air while using the force to move objects (which doesn’t phase me in the slightest).
I’ve isolated key areas on the concept sketch to describe my thoughts:
- The Rudder(s): In order for this carrier to turn somewhat effectively, it would need a huge rudder, possibly even 2, front and back respectively. The effect it would have in the air is much sleighter than if it would be in water. Another solution would be to have a series of interlocking rudders, much smaller, all along the underside of the hull. When the ship turns, these rudders would spin in one direction in the front, and the opposite direction in the back, with linear variables in between. This would force the airship to turn from a pivot point in the center of the structure and would be much more efficient. When the rudders would be straight, they would lock together to prevent drag. This is most likely the design I will go with.
2+3) Propellers. These things have to be gigantic. I love how Sergey put lots of propellers on all the wings, because I believe the airship would need it. Only problem is, the jetstream from the propellers in front would cause problems with the propellers on the wings behind, etc, etc, right on to the back wings, and I think this would actually reduce the efficiency. I could model fewer, larger propellers in the front, which would push air towards the wings in the back, increasing the lifting ability of the wings themselves, then one MONSTROUS propeller hanging low behind the carrier (low so it doesn’t affect the landing of planes). I could also arrange the propellers so that they’re offset from the ones directly behind. Regardless, I believe the winner here will be aesthetics vs funtionality; whichever can be as much of both as possible.
4)Alternate landing strips: What can I say. I love these, as they add so much character to the design, and solve the compositional problem of the big “hole” that the parasail causes. It seems sergey intended for these to be held up by ropes that drop down from the bowels of the parasail. This is a very cool idea, however I don’t think that the physics work. They’d be much too heavy, so I need to come up with a more funtional solution. Perhaps the sail will be fitted around a sort of dome cage, and the landing strips could be attached to this frame, as well as ropes reaching up to the higher levels for support.
5)Parasail: What to do with this? The shape is off in the concept art. It could be much wider at the top, mimicing more a parasail like the ones people use with fans strapped to their back, or it could keep it’s general shape, and be more like a hot air balloon, which is what I’m leaning towards. I was thiking of incorporating a form of exhaust system from the engines that would vent into the balloon, causing lift. This would require an extensive piping system that would curl up from underneath the ship, all the way up along the supporting ropes, then curl into a central area to vent upwards. YIKES!
Time to get started 
-Rage
