U.S.S. Akron part 1

Silent film showing the construction of 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.

[@Firebrand55]

Both Akron and Macon were great concepts.Their scouting capability over the Pacific would have been unequalled. But each had a tail girder design that was their Achilles Heel. The very waters they were meant to rule over claimed them.

[@machia0705]

Firebrand55 What exactly was the structural design flaw ?

[@paqman67]

@@machia0705 There was no "flaw" per say..but the imperfect stress testing techniques of the times that "assumed" much less stress being placed on their surfaces. It's an "urban myth" that the fins were "weaker" than the original desin..they were actually stronger. Here's an excellent book that goes into great detail about the design of the fins for the USS AKRON & MACON: airshiphistory.com/wp/uss-akron-uss-macon-an-engineering-history-of-fin-design/

[@machia0705]

Francisco Carvallo Thanks for the response. That book just went on my Christmas list ! I was never under the impression of a design flaw but I did know that a damaged fin on Macon was never properly repaired leading to eventual failure. That was the only structural failure event that I was ever aware of. I suppose that the impression of poorly designed fins came to being due to Macon’s initial fin damage. Can you briefly describe that event ? I was under the impression that it was due to operating in extremely heavy wind conditions that strained the upper fin structure that caused structural damage. Akron had damage too, but that was because she was caught by a crosswind while at anchor (moored), with her lower fin bouncing and hitting the deck while she came around into the wind. Akron was operating at a low altitude at sea during what was probably a squall with a sudden downdraft pushing Akron’s aft into the sea, having nothing to do with the prior damage . I know that in the case of Macon, the repairs were rushed and incomplete, in order to stay on schedule with fleet operations. After the Akron loss, proponents of the rigid airship program needed to prove Macon a success in order to keep the rigid LTA program alive. Is my understanding of historical events correct ? Thank you.

[@tereziabudzak2035]

The big airship that you made the video

[@franciosdeaeruiu7555]

I have no images of the cover or any of the book at all. All I have is what i recall from the two times I read it. I want a copy for myself if I can find out the name, and if it even exists Was a historical fiction story about the US Akron airship carrier program following the journey of a pilot and the command crew of the carrier as they tried to prove their carrier was an effective weapon I recall the pilot was the MC and was initially discouraged at his placement on the carrier but eventually grew fond of the ship and the crew. I also recall the ship crashed into the pacific at the end of the story and it ended on a bit of a sad note Do any of you anons know the nook Im talking about? I feel like it may have been called "airship pilot" but that name brings no results in any search I do. Did I just imagine this book? If i did i ought to write it down cuz it was a damn good story. Thanks for any info you guys can give me

[@geoffstemen3652]

0.75 speed is about real-time

[@tereziabudzak2035]

IThat’s a bigger ship

[@hannahbooth2658]

Hi there, this is some really great footage of the U.S.S. Akron - I work for a television company based in the UK and we would be interested in having a chat with you regarding licensing the footage. If you'd like further information, please don't hesitate to contact me at [e-mail]