The main salon even had a special aluminum grand piano built by Blüthner.....
Posted on 05/04/2011 4:32:24 PM PDT by AfricanChristian
We'll see; if there is value (esp. in these times), it can certainly be applied if the effort is made.
Maybe there is a specialty market to move mining equipment in and mined materials out or whatever. Maybe some opportunity to rotate some of those North Slope oil workers in and out for a little R & R, though I question it. Considering the money they pull in, they're going to prefer a two hour flight in and out of Anchorage for R&R, not a day or so on an airship.
I see far more viability on some well established route such as Boston to Dublin, New York to Tokyo or whatever.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but hydrogen was not the fuel of the Hindenberg, but the lighter-than-air gas that provided it with its buoyancy in the atmosphere.
Exactly right. Weather also got the Navy’s other two big airships, the Akron and the Macon.
What do you think about their potential in remote regions in Africa? Do you think Airships are technically feasible?African roads are either in terrible shape or non-existent and few African governments have either the resources or could secure financing to bridge the infrastructure deficit.
If Airships prove to be a feasible low cost alternative to road transport, they could boost commerce in Africa. It is currently cheaper to ship a container from China to Lagos (Nigeria) than from Lagos (Nigeria) to Abuja (Nigeria) by road.
It was adverse weather that initiated the end of the Hindenberg too.
To be truthful, the Hindenburg couldn’t have used helium, even if it was available. The use of helium would have required additional gas cells with even more supporting structure. The consequences of which would be critical sacrifices in the range/load equation that would have seriously impacted its marketing image. It would also have had serious impact upon already marginal handling qualities.
On departure on its famous last flight it was so heavily loaded it had to make use of “dynamic bouyancy” (in effect “surfing” the air in a nose up attitude) in order to takeoff. At cruise every effort was made to avoid rain showers to avoid incurring the additional weight of rain water absorbed by the aluminum doped (and extremely flammable in consequence) fabric covering as this might have forced the jettisoning of fuel and the embarrassment of an unscheduled landing at the flight’s outset.
Can modern “airships” overcome these limitations ? Its problematical, even given the advances in materials available to today’s designers. Even “aerodyne” designs are still subject to the same physical laws that governed the Hindenburg.
Airships don’t fit well in our modern air traffic environment. They require open spaces and low winds. Turbulence is their deadly enemy. But turbulence from jet traffic is endemic at all large airports. dUnless the purveyors of these “cruises” are prepared to create alternative landing zones not in conflict with normal air traffic and provide the ground control, safety and passenger services needed, I don’t see the idea having much chance of success. >PS
It would be, and I remember articles saying the same thing back in the 1970's.
To be “accurate” the Hindenburg’s fuel wasn’t “flammable hydrogen”. It was diesel. In fact the Germans went to some lengths to recover the Hindenburg’s engines after the crash on order to preserve their “secret” -they thought - technology.
>PS
Good article. Thanks.
Imagine a small bridge that could be built in sections near the place it is to span. Once the old bridge was dropped the new bridge sections could dropped into place by an airship. The disruption to traffic would be reduced from weeks to days. I assume the construction of the bridge would also be far simpler if it was done on the ground.
‘Fringe fan?’
Didn’t see ‘Fringe’, but they used them in ‘Caprica’.
I think Doppler radar makes it pretty easy to dodge weather now...
I’m going to royally pissed if after more than 100 years of powered flight, I have to get on a stupid blimp.
It immediately reminded me of the scene in a Fringe episode where Olivia is a small girl looking up at a passing Zeppelin immediately after transporting herself into the parallel universe. Whoever did the sound for the engine noise of that craft got it exactly right. The other point is that if blimps and Zeppelins ever become commonplace the nighttime reports of UFO's will go through the roof. Seeing something at night that big in the sky moving so slowly is quite eerie.
Don’t forget what also happened to the “Akron” and “Macon”.
I will say that I would give it a whirl. They probably are much safer now (famous last words).
I don't know what the potential is for Africa. If there are permanent roads, it might be cheaper (in most instances) to fix them up. Of course, that depends on the amount of traffic, especially freight, that the roads carry. Roads tend to have a very high fixed cost, and lower variable costs. Anywhere that cargo planes are used, is a likely contender for airships.
All of the US built rigids had structural problems, Shenandoah, Akron, Macon.
The only Navy rigid that was sound was the German reparation ship, the Los Angeles.
Blame the Navy and Goodyear (and perhaps the German consultants)
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