Comments on: Control Car, Flight Instruments, and Flight Controls

By: William Day

William Day — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:14:09 +0000

I dealt with aerial navigation first as an USAF navigator and later as an airline pilot. The article about the instrumentation and navigation for the Zellplins was captivating reading. You answered some long held questions. Drift readings, as the primary supplement to dead reckoning, becomes even more difficult at lower true air speeds, esp. given the fickle vicissitudes of surface gradient winds on the low level west bound flights.

More on navigation please. Thank you for this excellent piece, keep up the good work.

William R. Day
Ferndale, Washington
USA

By: Antony

Antony — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:17:18 +0000

I went for a flight on the Zeppelin NT in Friedrichshafen in 2006 – it was a boyhood dream come true.

By: WayneO

WayneO — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:46:06 +0000

Addendum: On examination of photos showing closer views of these objects, I see that they could also be disconnect points for separating the local chain that wraps around the control wheel sprockets from the longer chain runs to the control surfaces. But I’m still curious as to whether they served any visual indication purpose.

By: WayneO

WayneO — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:43:30 +0000

Great photos! I have a question regarding the plug-like objects on the control chains extending up from the helm and elevator wheels. To my thinking they could be either overtravel prevention measures or visual indicators of elevator and rudder position. Since these objects on the chains for the elevator wheel are differentiated by light and dark colors, I’m inclined to think that visual position indication could at least be one function.

By: wolfram

wolfram — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:11:44 +0000

Sorry, I meant axial catwalk. Thanks though!

By: Dan (Airships.net)

Dan (Airships.net) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:28:34 +0000

There was electrical lighting along the keel. I will try to add some photos to show what the keel looked like as soon as I have some free time.

By: wolfram

wolfram — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:42:38 +0000

Let me just say that this is my favorite website, like, ever, and being the biggest airship fanatic to ever walk the earth, thats saying something. I do think that you should find time to add sections on the airships of the great war and the british airship program. Firstly, WHERE DO YOU GET ALL THIS INFORMATION?!?! I would kill to have sources like you must. I have a couple of questions relating to this page: if there was no electricity on the keel catwalk , how was it lit? Also, where exactly was it? Wouldn’t there be no room because of the gas cells? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RESPOND EVEN IF YOU DON’T KNOW AT LEAST SAY THAT YOU DON’T IT WOULD MAKE ME SO GLAD!!!!

By: Joe Sweeney

Joe Sweeney — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:19:43 +0000

This is excellent information. Thanks!

By: Dan (Airships.net)

Dan (Airships.net) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:41:48 +0000

Access between the control car and the hull was by means of a ladder located in the observation room at the aft end of the car. You can see the location in this diagram, and you can see a man climbing the ladder in the background of this photo of Nelson Rockefeller on the Millionaire's Flight.

By: Joe Sweeney

Joe Sweeney — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:03:32 +0000

This is a fabulous site. I do have a few questions for a book I am writing. Isn’t there an access door to the control gondola? If so, what part of the gondola does it access? Thanks!