An aviation disaster marks 70 years today...

[gossame1]

Hello Gang,

I just happened to look at the calendar this morning. (May 6) I just realized that it was 70 years ago that the German zeppelin Hindenburg crashed while attempting a landing at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station after flying over from Germany.

I'm sure everyone here has seen the newsreel footage and heard the famous recording by Herb Morrison of his account of the arrival and subsequent destruction of the Hindenburg. If not, Youtube has the clip on there.

Remarkably, 36 out of the 96 pasengers died in the crash. It could have been a lot worse..

Some stats on the Hindenburg

Crew: 61
Passengers: 50 (later 72)
Length: 245 metres (804 feet)
Diameter: 41 metres (135 feet)
Gas type: Hydrogen
Gas capacity: 200,000 metres3 (7 million feet3)
Disposable lift: 112 tons
Power plant: 4 x 1,200 horsepower Daimler-Benz diesel engines
Max speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 knots)

[Rambit]

Every time I read about this or see the footage, I always remember the reporter's comments, "Oh the humanity".

Rambit

[marlinspike]

For some reason, to me, the sabatoge theory always seemed the most plausible.

Also, the whole thing would have been avoided had we not embaragoed Helium to Germany. Which by the way seems really weird to me. I mean, on the one hand we were anti-Nazi enough to embargo Helium of all things, but then we would let them fly this giant airship back and forth? It's about as weird to me as it is that during the Civil War people would picnic to watch the battles.

[300 Addict]

That was a disaster that will be remembered for a long time.

[srt8danno]

It certainly was an amazing event. To think that they had a special section for smoking cigarettes on board that thing.

[marlinspike]

Originally Posted by srt8danno

It certainly was an amazing event. To think that they had a special section for smoking cigarettes on board that thing.

The air pressure in that room was different from the rest, so even if its seals failed the hydrogen wouldn't have gotten in.

[srt8danno]

Originally Posted by marlinspike

The air pressure in that room was different from the rest, so even if its seals failed the hydrogen wouldn't have gotten in.

Did you see the Mythbuster’s show on the Hindenburg? I think I must have fallen asleep before I heard what they had to say about it. They made a complete mock up of the ship and coated it with various materials to simulate the explosive fire that took place.