September 4 - First U.S. Airship!

nPosted on September 4, 2020

n“Conquering” the air took millennia. Ancient Chinese people flew kites – even, at times, human-carrying kites.
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nSome ancient people crafted birdlike wings using lightweight wood and feathers, or stiffened their cloaks to create batlike wings – and then they jumped off high roofs or even towers to either glide or fly. People often ended up getting badly injured or even dying in these attempts, but gliding has been done successfully – and continues today, regularly, with modern hang gliders.
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nHot air balloons have been steadily improved upon since ancient times, as well.
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nHeavier-than-air flying machines were designed and built, tested and improved since at least the time of Leonardo da Vinci, and of course in 1903 heavier-than-air powered flight was successfully accomplished by the Wright brothers.
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nAnd then there are airships. Zeppelins. Blimps. Dirigibles.
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nWhatever you call them, lighter-than-air craft were used for almost all long-distance flights even after airplane travel became a thing.
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nOn this date in 1923, the first U.S. military airship, the USS Shenandoah, took its first flight. It later became the first airship to cross the continent of North America.
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nBy the way, when I see photos of old-time airships, I always think of the Hindenburg, but the Shenandoah was filled with helium – which doesn’t burn – rather than hydrogen – which burns easily! So it was much safer than the Hindenburg and other airships filled with hydrogen!
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nAs a matter of fact, the Shenandoah was the first rigid airship to be filled with helium! You may wonder why people didn’t use safe-safe-safe helium in all airships, but at the time helium was pretty scarce. As a matter of fact, the Shenandoah alone used a big portion of the entire world’s reserves of helium!!! The next airship in the U.S. military actually used the helium from the Shenandoah! Recycled helium? Rad!
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