The Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Allison Branch – the “history club” of Rolls-Royce (Allison) in Indianapolis – just recovered their ~~8 foot long model of the Akron built in the 1950’s. It had been missing for about 16 years. I am enjoying seeing the great detail photos on the website and may consider adding details to our Akron that are currently not in place.
We will celebrate its return and official hanging from the overhead structure with a meeting of members and other interested parties.
We would love to find a speaker near Indianapolis who is an expert on this ship. (Allison built those 90degree rotating prop gear boxes)
Dave Newill
Roy Mize
15 years ago
George Weldy was a neighbor. He died in 1998. Contact the Moffett Field Historical Society and they can help you with all things Macon, including George Weldy. http://www.moffettfieldmuseum.org/
George Weldy was my wife’s(Patricia Hemeter)uncle. Her mother was Esther Carmen Weldy (Hemeter). We visited George and Laura in CA circa 1971.
Dennis Mena
15 years ago
Fantastic photo! For all I know the couple standing in the center could be my grandparents. I hope you can download and send the other photo. I’d love to see it too. Thank you.
Another fantastic photo I’ve never seen. I have the feeling that this might be the May, 1932 shot of the Akron when she visited Sunnyvale given the empty field. It’s not the exact one I’m looking for, but thank you so much.
rick faust
16 years ago
looks like the akron and the macon had different props one two blades and the other three made of what I wonder???? rick
Hello Mr. Faust.
The Akron had “wooden” two bladed props. The US Navy had actually switched one pair to “metal” as on a trip accross country, the props “flew-off” on their own!! Scary sight seeing a 18 foot, 2 bladed prop coming at you @ 1,900 rpm! The Macon had 3 bladed props made of metal, which never broke off and made the ship some 5-8 mph faster than the Akron.
Francisco
The three bladed props were experimental and made by Hamilton Standard for the Navy to use on the Macon. I have owned one of these propellers since 1997 and am in process of transferring it to a museum. I have the drawings for all the parts, which specifically state the application as being ZRS-5. The blades each weigh about 147 pounds and the hub with the bolts and collars weighs close to 190 pounds. The locking “nut” is missing but I have the drawing for it. In the undersea photos of the wreck, the tip of one of the prop blades can be seen protruding from beneath a condenser panel. The props appear in several photos with the ship docked at Sunnyvale and in some publications.
david helms
16 years ago
hi. i am an avid airship researcher trying to locate relatives of george weldy. mr weldy is deceased but leaves behind an illustrious career in airships. he has a wife named laura. i am assuming she is still living. also, he has a son named david. can anyone assist me in locating either of these 2 people? many thanks.
The Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Allison Branch – the “history club” of Rolls-Royce (Allison) in Indianapolis – just recovered their ~~8 foot long model of the Akron built in the 1950’s. It had been missing for about 16 years. I am enjoying seeing the great detail photos on the website and may consider adding details to our Akron that are currently not in place.
We will celebrate its return and official hanging from the overhead structure with a meeting of members and other interested parties.
We would love to find a speaker near Indianapolis who is an expert on this ship. (Allison built those 90degree rotating prop gear boxes)
Dave Newill
George Weldy was a neighbor. He died in 1998. Contact the Moffett Field Historical Society and they can help you with all things Macon, including George Weldy.
http://www.moffettfieldmuseum.org/
George Weldy was my great uncle..His wife was Laura they lived in Cali, He spoke of this when ever he visited..
George Weldy was my wife’s(Patricia Hemeter)uncle. Her mother was Esther Carmen Weldy (Hemeter). We visited George and Laura in CA circa 1971.
Fantastic photo! For all I know the couple standing in the center could be my grandparents. I hope you can download and send the other photo. I’d love to see it too. Thank you.
https://airships.net/blog/airship-photo-day
Another fantastic photo I’ve never seen. I have the feeling that this might be the May, 1932 shot of the Akron when she visited Sunnyvale given the empty field. It’s not the exact one I’m looking for, but thank you so much.
looks like the akron and the macon had different props one two blades and the other three made of what I wonder???? rick
Hello Mr. Faust.
The Akron had “wooden” two bladed props. The US Navy had actually switched one pair to “metal” as on a trip accross country, the props “flew-off” on their own!! Scary sight seeing a 18 foot, 2 bladed prop coming at you @ 1,900 rpm! The Macon had 3 bladed props made of metal, which never broke off and made the ship some 5-8 mph faster than the Akron.
Francisco
Whoops, forgot to mention the macon’s props besides being made out of metal, were also larger: 26 feet accross.
Francisco
The 3 bladed aluminum props were 18 feet in diameter when fully assembled. To big for a fan in my living room.
The three bladed props were experimental and made by Hamilton Standard for the Navy to use on the Macon. I have owned one of these propellers since 1997 and am in process of transferring it to a museum. I have the drawings for all the parts, which specifically state the application as being ZRS-5. The blades each weigh about 147 pounds and the hub with the bolts and collars weighs close to 190 pounds. The locking “nut” is missing but I have the drawing for it. In the undersea photos of the wreck, the tip of one of the prop blades can be seen protruding from beneath a condenser panel. The props appear in several photos with the ship docked at Sunnyvale and in some publications.
hi. i am an avid airship researcher trying to locate relatives of george weldy. mr weldy is deceased but leaves behind an illustrious career in airships. he has a wife named laura. i am assuming she is still living. also, he has a son named david. can anyone assist me in locating either of these 2 people? many thanks.
david
There my Aunt and Uncle i’m my Aunt Laura’s name sake.