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Hindenburg: The New Evidence
- Thread starter Basil
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That is such a tragic story, and the latest info from the new camera angles and static discharge testing is fascinating. Eckener was so proud of the Zeppelin company's safety record in over a million miles of passenger service in 27 years - with not one single accident. And then the Lakehurst disaster. It could have been prevented if hydrogen hadn't been the lifting gas, instead of the helium the Hindenburg had been originally meant to use.
Schiff hoch!
Schiff hoch!
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Also they knew the ship was tail heavy, which should have been a clue of a leak somewhere aft. They could have delayed landing until they had sent some riggers back to figure out where the leak was and possibly repair it, then delay long enough for the gas to dissipate. I thought the static electricity testing was excellent and, while absent physical evidence it doesn't prove 100% what happened, it think it certainly demonstrated that the hypothesized cause was a highly likely possibility.
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I don't know what Lakehurst's regulations are now, but I would recommend that anyone in the area should check out hangar #1! It is so high that on certain days clouds can form and actually release a small amount of rain, reason why the floor is wet a lot. It's size will amaze you! They used to, at one time, let the general public go inside. It will give you an idea just how big the Hindenburg was. PJ
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mikephillips
Yoda
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Been a number of years, but I recall seeing on a PBS Nova I think about Hindenburg, they recreated some of the aluminum based paint used on it and found it was, as they said then, basically painted with rocket fuel as it caught almost immediately after they hit it with a lightening like charge.
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The fact they had such a stellar safety record before the Lakehurst incident was, in my estimation, a miracle.
Silverghost
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Both were built by hand with no technology of any kind (well, at least technology as we know it today).
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One of the Hindenburg's engines,
A view inside one of the engine pods -
Daimler LOF-6 (DB-602) 16-cylinder diesel engines each had an output of 1320 hp @ 1650 RPM (maximum power), and 900 hp @ 1480 RPM.
There was a plan to add a fifth engine, powered by hydrogen instead of diesel. It would use as fuel the hydrogen normally vented from the gas bags during flight. Never put in use.
A view inside one of the engine pods -
Daimler LOF-6 (DB-602) 16-cylinder diesel engines each had an output of 1320 hp @ 1650 RPM (maximum power), and 900 hp @ 1480 RPM.
There was a plan to add a fifth engine, powered by hydrogen instead of diesel. It would use as fuel the hydrogen normally vented from the gas bags during flight. Never put in use.
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Tom, after looking inside the cabin, I realized that it's a little different than the ones we had. The floor under the observers seat in the back was clear thick plastic with a large azimuth scribed in it showing compass readings plus other readings which I forgot what they were. Kind of spooky at first walking over that floor in flight. You could see pretty far down in the water from that position, (Sub observation), Plus we had a regular grill instead of the frying pan shown in the Goodyear version, lots of steaks went across that grill! Some seating was also different, plus the pilots had a large wheel along side of their seats for elevator control. 
I guess Goodyear built quite a few of them, don't remember.
I guess Goodyear built quite a few of them, don't remember.
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Then we have the mystery of the "Ghost Blimp" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR7TyYOPmMg
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Early in the documentary a photo is shown taken at Ft. Sill of a burning balloon and men running from it. Since I live right next to Sill and am pretty familiar with Post airfield I did a quick search and found this article:
www.army.mil
If you do not want to read the entire article here is a quote from the article from Towana Spivey, retired curator of the Ft.Sill National Historic Landmark Museum:
"In 1918 there was a tragic accident at Henry Post field. A balloon filled with hydrogen was getting ready to lift off and the ground crew was still holding the guide ropes hanging down. Static electricity caused a spark and the whole thing blew up," Spivey said. "Soldiers initially ran away from the fireball but were ordered to go back towards the fire, to keep the balloon from drifting toward the wooden barracks in the vicinity. At least six Soldiers were killed and another 30 were injured in that incident."
Fort Sill birthplace of Army combat aviation
FORT SILL, Okla. (19 Jan. 2012) -- Fort sill has the oldest continuously operating Army airfield, almost 100 years old, and is considered the birthplace of Army combat aviation.
www.army.mil
If you do not want to read the entire article here is a quote from the article from Towana Spivey, retired curator of the Ft.Sill National Historic Landmark Museum:
"In 1918 there was a tragic accident at Henry Post field. A balloon filled with hydrogen was getting ready to lift off and the ground crew was still holding the guide ropes hanging down. Static electricity caused a spark and the whole thing blew up," Spivey said. "Soldiers initially ran away from the fireball but were ordered to go back towards the fire, to keep the balloon from drifting toward the wooden barracks in the vicinity. At least six Soldiers were killed and another 30 were injured in that incident."