About the Author / Contact Information / About the Site
U.S. Navy MZ-3A (Photo: JB-MDL Public Affairs)
About Dan Grossman
I have been researching, writing, and speaking about the technology and history of rigid airships and zeppelins for over 20 years. My most recent project was a documentary for the Discovery Channel and Channel 4 (UK) called “What Destroyed the Hindenburg?” and you can also look for me on the Weather Channel this summer. I have consulted for various museums around the world and I frequently help TV, radio, and print journalists who are looking for information about airships.
Trailer for “What Destroyed the Hindenburg?”
In addition to my work as an airship historian I am also a constitutional law attorney, photographer, and eclectic geek.
Why Airships?
As a technology nerd and former pilot, obsessed by flight since I was a little kid, I have long been fascinated by the history and technology of aviation, and there is something magical about an object bigger than the United States capitol that can simply float in the air. Every kid loves helium balloons; what could be better than one the size of an ocean liner?
I am also drawn to an era in which the most advanced technology of the day could be developed by untrained amateurs like Ferdinand von Zeppelin or Hugo Eckener. The defining aviation technologies of the early 20th century (the improved internal combustion engine, the flying boat airliner, the passenger zeppelin) are remarkably simple devices; there is not much about these machines that cannot be understood by a person with average intelligence and a touch of mechanical ability, and there is something appealing for me about a time in which the height of technology was represented by machines that were, in essence, so very basic.
And I am fascinated by the wide-eyed enthusiasm for technology in the popular culture of the Machine Age, when people believed science could make everything better, that generated such wild public enthusiasm for zeppelins in the 1920′s and 1930′s.
But mostly, they were just really cool.
Dan Grossman
dan@airships.net
(404) 941-5187
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
On flight deck of Zeppelin NT
In control car from 1975 movie “The Hindenburg”
With Manfred Bauer (son of Hindenburg officer Heinrich Bauer), Dr. Cheryl Ganz, and Manfred’s daughter, at the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen
Contact Form
I encourage you to use the webform below to contact me. Messages sent through the form will get my attention much quicker, and they will evade the spam-filtering on my email account, which may block emails sent directly to my address.
Please note that I don’t comment on the value or authenticity of historical items; I welcome all emails except “How much is my xxxx worth.”
About the Site
Airships.net is a non-commercial educational resource for the public. It is the product of original research from primary and secondary sources and I am also deeply grateful to the distinguished historians who have generously reviewed the site and offered their suggestions, criticisms, and corrections.
This entire website is protected by copyright but permission to quote the site is liberally granted to those who request it; a link to the site is always required.
© 2008, 2012, 2013 Daniel Grossman
