2 ms·
Yeah, your balloon just implodes at the speed of sound. In terms of disastrous outcomes, it's pretty much the same thing. Hydrogen explosions are scary, but t
by idlewords 12y ago
Yeah, your balloon just implodes at the speed of sound.
In terms of disastrous outcomes, it's pretty much the same thing. Hydrogen explosions are scary, but the ball of flame also rises very quickly. Most of the people on the Hindenburg survived.
- panzi 12y agoI wonder what would have happened if a Vacuum airship would have had a similar accident. Meaning a hull breach at a 200m (650ft) altitude. No fire, just a bit of a drop. Maybe shrapnel? Well, I guess it would drop much faster.
- dredmorbius 12y agoGiven that there are no vacuum containment systems large enough to support the Hindenberg, it would never have taken off in the first place. Given that what precipitated the failure of the Hindenberg appears to have been either an initial slow leak which caught fire, or a fire which consumed the gas envelopes, possible as little as a gradual loss of lift. Even in the case of sudden failure, it would depend on how many lift compartments existed -- you'd lose 1/n of your total lift, so presumably a pronounced but possibly controlled descent.