SB Lighter Than Air

[signal]

My family lives in NW Ohio. As a boy, my father saw the USS Akron
and the USS Macon when they flew west on their various trips. He said
that back then hearing an airplane was not very common, and these
airships (with their many engines) were very loud. They also flew at
a fairly low altitude and speed, and seemed to take a long time to
pass overhead. Their size, and the noise they made, was unforgettable.

[David Latuch]

Wowwie Zowwie Schischqumba

[CraigH]

USA, USS Shenandoah (1923)
Originally designated FA-1, for 'Fleet Airship Number One'. The design was based on Zeppelin L-49 (LZ-96) from 1917, one of the German "Height Climbers". These ships were built right on the edge of structural weight to aid in achieving high altitudes. I believe this was the first zeppelin painted in aluminum dope rather than gray tones. The Shenandoah was the first large zeppelin designed specifically to use helium (rather than hydrogen) for lift.

The light design turned out to be a major factor in the cause of the loss of this ship; that along with the crew not having shared the German experience with these frail vessels in adverse weather conditions. On her 57th flight she was caught in a a violent updraft during storm, taken beyond the pressure limits of her gas bags, torn apart and crashed near Caldwell, Ohio, 3 September 1925.

CraigH

[wb21]

Beautifully done!

[emperor_andreas]

Very nice work...another famous airship makes her long-awaited appearance on here!

[bezobrazov]

Shining Shenandoah!

[Hood]

Excellent work. This famous, but ill-fated, airship is a nice addition.

[eswube]

Great work.

[CanisD]

She's a beauty.

[CraigH]

USA, ZR-3 USS Los Angeles (1924) (LZ-126)

Built by Germany's Zeppelin Company as a war reparation for the United States. This shows the USS Los Angeles fitted with a temporary trapeze system for launch and recovery of aircraft. A modified version of this was used on the USS Akron and USS Macon.

I found drawing tiny aircraft (the Vought UO-1) challenging. The thing turned into a black blob using SB standards. Feel absolutely free to play with it and come up with better solutions.

CraigH