The development
of the rigid airship was one of a triumph of technology and an
enhancement of working with nature. The rigid airship was a series
of gas balloons enclosed in a rigid framework, over which doped
fabric was stretched and sewn in to place to form an other protection
of the bags.
Both the R100
and R101 were the first airships to break with the normal design
concepts and have the passenger accommodation within the airship
hull itself.
Seen here
is a gas bag inflated and in place. The passenger accommodation
can be seen clearly illuminated at the bottom of the ship
transversing from one side of the hull, to the other.
With the idea of covering
long distances in an airship which was designed to cover some
5,000 miles, and transverse oceans, comfort to passengers was
a priority. In comparison to the aeroplanes which could only seat
a few passengers in a cramped cabin for a short time, the airship
was in a different league altogether being compared to ocean liners.
Many of the design ideas were indeed taken from the contemporary
liners and styles of the day.
Select
the airship interior you would like to visit.
