Loss of the Dixmude Page: 3 of 16
This report is part of the collection entitled: National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Collection and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
-3-
nal cause of the burning of the Dixmude. This question will
.. probably never be answered.
The public, however, believes the Dixmude was set on fire
by lightning. It considers this the greatest danger for air-
ships and consequently accepts it as the most probable' cause,
when there is no good reason for such an assumption. In fact,
the question as to the magnitude of the danger from lightning
is of extraordinary importance in estimating the longevity of
commercial airships and we will therefore first endeavor to
determine what conditions may have led to the destruction of
the Dixrmude by lightning.
It may be taken for granted that an airship with a metal
frame, like a Zeppelin, is exposed in only a very slight degree
to the danger of being set on fire by lightning. This has been
demonstrated by both theory and practice. It must be borne in
mind, however, that an airship is not proof against being struck
by lightning, so much as against being set on fire by lightning.
am of the opinion that an airship with a metal frame, when
moving between electrically charged clouds, is not only occasi-
onally, but very frequently, struck by lightning, which is harm-
lessly received by the mass of metal. Theoretically considered,
there are two principal cases in which electrical- flashes or
sparks may pass from a cloud to an airship. A cloud and the ap-
proaching airship may be oppositely charged and thus cause a
discharge as soon as they are near enough or, in the other case,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View three places within this report that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Eckener, Hugo. Loss of the Dixmude, report, April 1924; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc56906/m1/3/?q=airships: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.