4 ms·
The Akron and Macon may not have been copied from height climbers, but they were certainly influenced by them in the sense that the US didn't know how to build
by gozur88 11y ago
The Akron and Macon may not have been copied from height climbers, but they were certainly influenced by them in the sense that the US didn't know how to build anything else.
Regarding Graf Zeppelin, I have no idea how much Eckener's judgement came into play. But surely it must have braved a storm or two over that many miles.
- mannykannot 11y agoSome non-zeppelin airship designers thought for themselves. Barnes Wallis did proper stress analysis for the R100, and invented a superior gas-bag restraining harness based on geodesic curves.
- gozur88 11y agoWell, that's true. Britain could make airships, too, and had used them during the war. And eventually the US would have been able to do that as well. But we were far behind at the close of the war. We had a huge advantage, too. In those days if you wanted helium you had to deal with the US.