Watch The Airships Online

12 January, 2005

With the world in financial turmoil after the Wall Street crash, raising the money needed to build a fleet of airships for intercontinental travel was tough business. Two new ships were built for the US Navy - Akron was the world's first flying aircraft carrier. Inside its huge fuselage was a hangar with four modern fighter planes that could be launched and retrieved in flight. The Navy's concept was that the Akron, and later, her sister-ship, the Macon would become the aerial eyes of the fleet. To justify the public money spent on these giants, they were sent on almost continual public-relations flights around the country - showing the flag - winning the accolades of the people. On one such flight, three ground crew holding the mooring lines were lifted into the air when the 'ship rose unexpectedly. Dramatic film captured two of the men dropping to their deaths, hundreds of feet below - a third struggling to reach the ship, and safety. These images horrified the public, and did little to enhance the popularity of these huge craft.

Edit Details Submit News Write a Review Start a Discussion