The Hindenburg Catastrophe

Group 5

Jon Neuendorf

Sean Monahan

Brandon Charbonneau

Nicholas Orlando

Purpose

Due to the continuing fascination with the Hindenburg disaster, this report investigates how the Hindenburg disaster influenced the aeronautical transportation industry today.

Topics Investigated

• History

• Theories behind the disaster

• Past, present, and future zeppelins

• Today's airships and airplanes

Hindenburg – Boeing 747 - Titanic

Brief Background

The Germans created the Hindenburg during World War II to signify their air dominance to the world. However, the Hindenburg had a disaster of epic proportions when it mysteriously caught aflame and was incinerated

History

Pre-Hindenburg Hydrogen Lifting Power Smaller shed to build in British Airship R-101

History

Original Design 761 Feet Long 5,307,000 cubic feet of hydrogen

New Design 7,000,000 cubic feet of Helium

History

Hindenburg Overall Design 15 rings 36 girders

History

Hindenburg Overall Design Triangular keel Cruciform Tail

History

Nazi Connection Money Symbolism

Max Schmeling Nuremburg 1936 Olympic

Games Pamphlets

History

Early Troubles U.S. Embargo Finance Nazi expectations

History

Transatlantic Flight 50 Passengers – Extra Cabins 2.5 day crossing

Half the speed of any boats of the day

Theories

• Hydrogen Explosion

• Coated with Thermite

• Static Spark

• Sabotage

• Our Idea

Hydrogen Explosion• Sharp turn caused

puncture

• Puncture caused hole in hydrogen tank

• Hydrogen extremely flammable

• Fire burned red not clear

Thermite

• Thermite is 1 part aluminum and 3 part iron oxide

• Hindenburg was coated with 5 parts aluminum and 1 part iron oxide

• Thermite was to heavy to use

• Myth Busters did experiment

• Theory proven wrong

Static Spark

• Static discharge built up

• Outer hull caught fire

• Frame caught fire

• Hydrogen caught fire

• Chain reaction

Sabotage

• Most unlikely

• Many still believe it

• Sabotage done by Joseph Spehl and Eric Spehl

• Had anti Nazi up bringing

What We Think

• Static Spark Theory

• Engineering Perspective

• Caused by hydrogen, extremely flammable

• Makes sense from data

Zeppelins Past, Present, and Future

The Past

Zeppelins

Rigid

Engines troubles

Second Zeppelin crashed in a storm

Hindenburg burst into flame

Were created mostly by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin and Hugo Eckener.

Ferdinand died in 1917, before the Hindenburg and Eckener took over

Eckener died shortly after the World Wars

Airships of the Past

Present

The latest model of Zeppelins

Advanced

New body styles

New engines

Smaller designs

No more hydrogen gas used to lift the Zeppelins

Zeppelin tourism vs Zeppelin marketing

Past

Present

The Zeppelin NT

Future

Zeppelins are going to be very useful for many things in the near and far future.

Afghanistan testing

Unmanned

Long Endurance Multi-INT Vehicle

Specialties

Zeppelins also are going to be financially used

Marketing

Short rides

Airships vs. Airplanes

Transportation

• SkyCat-220 cruises at 92mph

• Range of 3,225 nautical miles

• Transports up to 220 tons in STOL mode

• Transports up to 160 tons in VTOL mode

• Solar panels

SkyFreight

Advertising

• The Goodyear Blimp

• Airplane altitude restrictions

• Read times of clients

• Airships can stay in position

• Most people notice an airship advertisement

• Consumers enjoy blimp advertising

SkyScreen

Research and Exploration

• Planes need good landing conditions

• The SkyCat can land within it’s own length

• Capable of landing on unfriendly terrain

• 10 tons of equipment can be used

• Tolerant of physical damage

Conclusions & Recommendations

Conclusion

Today’s airships are highly effective due to the extensive research to find and fix all the flaws to avoid future tragedies like the Hindenburg

Recommendation

Use the most efficient technology to ensure safety of all passengers to increase travel by air.

Conclusion

The Hindenburg’s destruction decreased the use of air transportation in the time period.

Recommendation

Zeppelins and airships of any type should be built to a smaller scale which could help maintain safety for all passengers.

Conclusion

This disaster directly influenced the creation of today’s airships and their structures.

Recommendation

All disasters need to be completely assessed and any potential problems be reported to ensure safety of all airships of the type.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the history of the Hindenburg and its technological developments helps us to understand the death of the industry caused by the destruction of the airship.

Recommendation

Investigating the history may lead to increased knowledge of the legacy of the Hindenburg.

References

Aston A, The return of airships… again. January 2007, Retrieved Sept 7th from http://www.businessweek.com/investing/green_business/archives/ 2008/01/the_return_of_a.html

McNamee, G. (2009, Aug 8). Zeppelins, Past and Present. Retrieved Aug 27, 2009, from Brittanica.com: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/08 /balloon-accidents-and-the-weather/

 Wutz H, Early zeppelin litho postcard flying over Germany. N.p.d.. Retrieved Spet 7th from http://www.scripophily.net/earzeplitpos.html

Grossman D, Airships: A Hindenburg and zeppelin history site, Last updated Sept 7th 2009. Retrieved September 7th, 2009, from http://www.airships.net/

 Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH, First flight of the Zeppelin NT #3 D-LZZF, Last updated November 7th 2004,  Retrieved Sept 7th from http://www.modern-airships.info/en/zeppelin/first_flight_lzzf.html

Smith D, Dread Zeppelin, the Army’s new surveillance blimp, Posted June 8th 2009, retrieved Sept 7th from http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-06/dread-zeppelin-armys-new-surveillance-blimp