the world's moved on since the Hindenburg, lol, airships aren't just one massively huge sack filled w/ explosive gas. comparing survivability to something completely different like a cruise ship is totally pointless since there's too many variables in play.
Today on this day in 1937 The Hindenburg was lost.
- Thread starter humbug
- Start date
You may not like the blot on the Hindenburg's history but again, it’s factually accurate and you can’t ignore it, my initial post was along the lines that of the two historical events to commemorate the Lusitania would be the one for me - and indeed it widely is.
I don’t for a moment think anybody in this thread is remotely trying to glorify Nazism, where you get that from I don’t know.
I’ll look at that, cheers.
If anybody is interested in the R101 or indeed the Hindenburg then I couldn’t recommend these books highly enough - I own all three.
R101 A Pictorial History.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/R101-Pictorial-Nick-Neve-Walmsley/dp/0750925027
The Millionth Chance: The Story of The R101
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Millionth-...#mediaMatrix_secondary_view_div_1557386936247
Zeppelin Hindenburg An Illustrated history of LZ-129
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zeppelin-H...e+hindenburg&qid=1557387516&s=gateway&sr=8-11
Right, the Hindenburg was actually quite safe, no one really knows what caused the fire but according to eye witnesses the top rear of the ship was burning for quite some time before it blew up, it didn't just blow up and when it did it was still somewhat buoyant with half the ship destroyed, it came down very slowly.
Of course it was only a couple hundred feet off the ground but two thirds survived that inferno, the ship was designed for helium but because of the embargo they had to use hydrogen and with that they did make some safety modifications, they fireproofed the hydrogen cells and the living quarters module, those modifications helped stop the ship going up in one go and helped many survive the fire around the passenger cabins.
A fire on any aircraft is lethal. had the ship been filled with helium as designed it would have gone on for many years, eventually retired and perhaps lost to history.
Scrap metal from the R101 ironically was used in the construction of the Hindenburg.
Ultimately, in that era they simply didn’t perceive Hydrogen to be as dangerous as it proved (in both vessels) much as Titanics officers were of the option that they’d see anything likely to sink the ship long before they hit it.
The hubris of an age that knew no better.
Ultimately, in that era they simply didn’t perceive Hydrogen to be as dangerous as it proved (in both vessels) much as Titanics officers were of the option that they’d see anything likely to sink the ship long before they hit it.
The hubris of an age that knew no better.
Soldato
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I wonder what kind of course history would have taken if Germany had won WW1
No that my friend is a whole thread / forum in itself, let’s put it this way, I doubt we’d have had the rise of Hitler and WWII for a start.
That's true, Germany was 'viscously' penalised for WWI, its population suffered massively as a result of that, no work, hyper inflation, people starving in the streets on mass, along comes Adolf and says "vote for me, i'll make all your troubles go away" and he did, only it turns out he was a raging lunatic.
Its widely accepted the punitive measures taken against Germany post WWI was what caused WWII, its why at the end of WWII the approach to Germany was very different, the ailed powers helped Germany get back on its feet.
Be careful with the word 'caused' - it was a contributory factor by precipitating the rise of National Socialism, but it was not the 'cause' of WWII. Saying that the Treaty of Versaille 'caused' WWII is awfully apologetic on behalf of those in power in Germany in the 1930s; it's akin to saying they had no choice.
National Socialism always results in disaster, it depends on group identity to work and right there you have the main ingredients for a #### storm, todays youth need to relearn that.
The thing is when you have a decade + of complete national poverty and humiliation you breed a lot of angry people, add to that the cocktail of group identity politics and a madman has a very effective recruitment tool.
There was never any reconciliation, as far as a lot of Germans were concerned the first war was not over, WWII was revenge for the way they perceived the world had treated them.
Off on a slight tangent...
I can't be the only one who is very interested in the work Airlander are doing to bring airships back to our skies.
I really hope they can carve out a sucessful niche in logistics/luxury air travel, or anything else they can think of using it for.
The idea of a luxury cruise, sipping cocktails at 2000', at a bar, with paroramic views all around - Well, sign me up.
And from a professional point of view, I'm curious as to who they'll get to fly these things - I wouldn't mind a shot.
I can't be the only one who is very interested in the work Airlander are doing to bring airships back to our skies.
I really hope they can carve out a sucessful niche in logistics/luxury air travel, or anything else they can think of using it for.
The idea of a luxury cruise, sipping cocktails at 2000', at a bar, with paroramic views all around - Well, sign me up.
And from a professional point of view, I'm curious as to who they'll get to fly these things - I wouldn't mind a shot.
Once they prove to the public that they're safe I think they'll quickly overtake hot-air ballooning for certain types of hol. floating in a panoramic gondolier over virtually any scenic destination you can think of would be stunning; sunrise over the African plains, as an example. little to no engine noise to scare the animals, loads of time to hover/crawl and take it all in and take photos etc. As for travel, I dunno. people go for cruises but the size of a ship and the facilities they can offer is a whole different proposition. there's also the fuel issue, for long trips. could possibly solar-panel the top to provide electric motor power, maybe?
Electric motors, solar powered, that's a relay good idea.