But it looks so shiny!
One theory regarding the Hindenburg explosion is that it caught fire because the Zeppelin company had, um, painted it with thermite.1
Proponents of the “flammable fabric” theory point out that the coatings on the fabric contained both iron oxide and aluminium-impregnated cellulose acetate butyrate dope. Cellulose acetate butyrate dope is known to be flammable and iron oxide is well-known to react with aluminium powder. In fact, iron oxide and aluminium are sometimes used as components of solid rocket fuel or thermite. (However, the oft-cited claim that the ship was “coated in rocket fuel” is a significant overstatement.)
More Hindenburg facts: nearly two thirds of the people on board survived. And it had been meant to use helium; the Zeppelin company resorted to hydrogen due to the U.S.’ Helium Control Act.
1 Significant overstatement.
In the interwar era, the heyday of the zeppelins, the United States had the only natural sources of helium on Earth (natural gas wells in Kansas and neighboring states) and restricted its export for national security reasons. The only other method of helium production was by cryogenic separation from natural gas, and I don't know if any other countries had developed that technology by the 1930s.
All of which is to say, that if Hindenburg-era zeppelins were designed to use helium, it was probably only on the drawing board. All of the European airships of the day made use of the well-developed (and much less expensive) hydorgen production processes.
Posted by Jimcat on April 14 2005 11:05
As I recall, the denial of helium to the Zeppelin company at least appeared to be a fairly close decision, ultimately being vetoed from the top. And I believe the Hindenburg was not quite finished when the decision was made, as the plans were then altered to reflect both the greater lifting power of hydrogen and the need for additional safety precautions (such as the pressurized smoking room).
Had it not been for Hitler, the Hindenburg might well have ended up using helium.
Posted by David on April 15 2005 08:54