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The majority of Hindenburg victims burnt to death - "riding the craft down" doesn't seem quite such an attractive option.
by anexprogrammer 10y ago
The majority of Hindenburg victims burnt to death - "riding the craft down" doesn't seem quite such an attractive option.
- simplicio 10y agoWell, obviously you don't want to hang around very long after its on (or even close to) the ground. IIRC, most of the burning deaths were crew-members in the upper parts of the ship who were either caught in the fire in its first stages or didn't have a way out even after it hit the ground. The lower decks weren't ignited till it hit the ground. But the point is that "impact" wasn't a common cause of death for those who stayed in the ship until it was near the ground. Even when the lifting gas is being vented fairly rapidly, they tend to comedown at survivable speeds.
- ars 10y agoThe ones who burnt to death were trapped with no way out. They didn't have the choice to ride it down. Those were were not trapped either survived or jumped too early.
- PhasmaFelis 10y agoIIRC, most of the survivors simply waited near the bottom until landfall, then walked away. I think many of the victims had a choice between jumping or burning, but it definitely seems like a burning envelope is survivable if (your part of) the cabin doesn't catch. Maybe the focus should have been on making the cabin nonflammable. Suspending the cabin with an air gap, and lining it (especially on top) with serious fireproof and heat-resistant lining, might have done the job.