Scenes of the construction of the Goodyear Air Dock and an airship frame, 1929-1930

Silent film showing the construction of the Goodyear Airdock, an airship hanger in Akron, Ohio, and the U.S.S. Akron (ZRS-4), a helium-filled U.S. Navy rigid airship that operated between September 1931 and April 1933. This film was reformatted and digitized from the original 35mm nitrate film thanks to a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation.

[@paulbfields8284]

I was born within a mile of this magnificent piece of architectural achievement. I marvel at the level of engineering and accurate carefully coordinated cooperation between operators to make this structure and the structures built within. A mark of extreme human achievement.

[@marshallohio5512]

I grew up at Junior Ave by Hill Side Cemetery on Canton road!! My father worked at Goodyear Aerospace !! Always wanted to go inside this building !!

[@kathleenloverde1030]

I lived across Triplett Blvd from this thing, and saw it every day that I lived there! It is still a landmark that I look for every time I go down the highway! Dad taught flying at Shorty Fultons airport and we kids use to go over there and bother the guys in the control tower on top of the terminal! LOL

[@thomasbehrend7562]

My cousin lived about a half mile away. An awesome feat of engineering! Hope the find some use for .that building

[@judpowell1756]

only the corners of the building are actually anchored to the ground...all the supports in the center float on rollers because of the amount of expansion and contraction. The airdock was designed by Goodyear's Dr Karl Arnstein, the same man that designed the USS Akron and Macon

[@jesuslinear389]

very cool thanks for the great video my great grandfather took a major part in building that nice to see what they built

[@richardjohnson8009]

Would you believe that the grand canyon could be an airbase for massive airships or was in the past? What if we were to make a factory for massive airships in the grand canyon? Oh hey that would work.

[@eshiveley]

awesome

[@ignatiusdemonseed]

That huge structure is still standing today (14 Feb 2021).

[@bnetmay3441]

Hello, I am looking for the name of the material used for the coating please

[@DannybFlat01]

One year to build? Is this correct for the frame?

[@archivalservices7603]

Yes the ground breaking ceremony was November 15, 1928, construction started on the air dock structure April 20, 1929 and was completed November 25, 1929.

[@machia0705]

Today it would take 9 years just to approve. Another 3 years to build.