Jim, N2EY wrote: Dirigibles/zeppelins couldn't go high enough to get above bad weather, nor fast enough to outrun/outflank it. Nor could they be made rugged enough to go through bad weather without being so heavy they'd not have much payload...
--------------------------------- Ah, but the Zeppelin gave us a bit of technology that serves so well even today: the ever faithful and effective "Zepp" antenna and all its many derivatives! Who can run open wire line to an end-fed dipole without imagining they hear the rumble of the Zeppelin's engines somewhere in the far distance? Airships never went away, of course. They simply became things most folks were afraid to board, thanks to that classic bit of news footage of the Hindenburg's end. Smaller non-rigid airships served in huge numbers in WWII and they've been around ever since doing survey work, hauling heavy equipment and, of course, as moving billboards. Now a few companies are developing modern dirigibles for use in passenger and freight service once again. One such company is here in the Northwest USA. The fact that heavier-than-aircraft provide a rough ride in bad weather has given rise to the mistaken idea that the big lighter-than-airships did too. There was a fellow who made a number of crossings on both the Graf Zeppelin and the Hindenburg who became somewhat famous among Zeppelin travelers. Soon after departure he'd place a fountain pen, balanced on end, on a table in the passenger lounge and take bets on how long it'd stay upright. Frequently the pen was still upright when they tied up at the mooring mast at their destination a day or two later. In really rough weather the big airships were reported to sway gently, but that was all. I suspect that airships, like Morse code, "shortwave" radio and a lot of other technology some folks assume are obsolete will be with us for a long, long time yet. Maybe we'll even get to work an aircraft mobile aboard a real dirigible again one day! Using CW of course... Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
