Return of the Zeppelins

Posted by michael on Wednesday August 15, 2001 @09:12PM from the death-from-above dept.

kfg writes: "While the world has focused its aeronautic attention on the Helios solar powered plane the Zeppelin NT has carried it's first paying passengers on a one hour "tourist" flight in Germany, the first Zeppelin to do so since the infamous Hindenburg disaster. This comes after its return from the Paris Airshow where it was an unqualified hit with attendees. I can't really tell you why but this news tickles me more than any other tech news in ages. Sometimes the oldest tech is the coolest. Oh yeah, tickets are $280 American." This is the baby brother of the Cargolifter model; CNN has a brief story.

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The Hindenburg accident wasn't due to the hydrogen by Anonymous Coward · 2001-08-15 21:45 · Score: 5, Informative

For those who didn't know, it was apparently caused by the coating they used on the fabric. Turns out the reflective coating was *very* similiar to thermite. Static build up + thermite = nasty accident
Personally I'm glad to see the zepplin fly again. Especially given my affinity for steampunk.