Wasn't the Hindenburg crash really weird

[Hammersia]

Don't think there's been an in depth PH discussion for a while about it, just that after all this time, numerous investigations, quite a bit of actual footage, lots of credible eyewitnesses...

And there's still umpteen theories about what actually happened and no concensus. Including some intriguing sabotage claims. Wiki article is far too long to provide excerpts.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaste...

It had made 17 successful transatlantic trips, operationally it seems super impressive to be doing practical intercontinental travel with a decent payload in 1937.

Is it an even stranger aviation mystery then MH370?

Edited by Hammersia on Sunday 12th March 20:47

[Hammersia]

2xChevrons said:

I don't think it's quite as mysterious or disputed as you are making out. There are various theories out there, but most of them are not really credible.

The theory at the time - that it was an act of sabotage - was mostly a product of German politics and various tensions between the Zeppelin company, DZR and the Nazi Party. There is no real evidence for it.

The weight of evidence and expert and technical opinion comes down on the side of it being caused by build-up and discharge of static electricity which touched off hydrogen lingering from recent venting to correct the zeppelin's trim. To that can be added contributory factors, like the possibility that the structure was over-stressed by unsafe operating practices since the formation of DZR and sharp maneuvers in the immediate approach to the final landing which led to a gasbag puncture - this was the theory favored by the man who ran the Zeppelin company. See also: incendiary paint which let the fire spread so quickly.

Was gasbag venting of hydrogen a thing though? The airship was being trimmed by dumping of water ballast (lighter) right upto the crash, so why hydrogen vent to make it heavier at nearly the same time?

[Hammersia]

ChocolateFrog said:

A 4 year old could tell you what would happen to a big bag of hydrogen if you give it long enough.

Which most of the time isn't very long.

And yet, as I say, it did a lot more miles (17 transatlantic round trips) than recent helium ships like the Bedford Airlander etc.

It seemed like a pretty smart bit of engineering for 1936:

[Hammersia]

LotusOmega375D said:

You can pay airlines more for Business and First Class seating though and still get to your destination much quicker than an airship.

But no kitchen, no bar, no piano, no lounge... not really comparable.