Talk:Heighliner

Heighliner capacity
What's the source for saying that a heighliner could carry an entire *planet's* population and equipment? If this refers to the section in Dune where Leto Atreides talks about the heighliner shipping House Atreides to Arrakis then I think it is a misreading. It seems clear to me that what is being shipped is the Atreides family, their house troops, and their personal advisors, as well as their military equipment. This might number many thousands - perhaps even millions of people - but it is a very long way from being the entire population of Caladan. The Caladanese are no more uprooted and transported than are the Arakeen who remain on Arakis when the Atreides take over. In other words, the House is not the same thing as the planet. I'd also point out that Atreides personnel are shipped to Arakis both before and after Paul himself arrives - Idaho is in the vanguard, Halleck is in the rearguard - so presumably more than one heighliner is involved in shipping the Atreides. However if there's another source that backs up the statement then I'm happy to leave it unedited.