Interesting Articles
Bermuda and Caribean USS LA Flights
The rigid airship ZR-3, re-christened in this country as the U.S.S. Los Angeles, was built in Germany and flown to the U.S. in October 1924. The U.S. Navy offered the Zeppelin people an extra $100,000 if Dr. Eckener would fly her over. They really wanted this ship!
After she arrived the first thing the U.S. Navy did was to empty her of hydrogen and fill her with helium the Shenandoah. Since helium is heavier than hydrogen, this reduced her lift, and therefore, her fuel capacity and range. During the time of the partnership between the two airships they shared the same helium, so only one ship was flyable at a time. I could be proved wrong in this stateÂment if anyone has a picture of the two in the air at the same time after the hydrogen was removed from the Los Angeles. (Except for the World War I period it is unusual to have a picture of two "rigids" together. The Graf Zeppelin visited England and was photographed with the R-100 or the R-101 – a good picture!)
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Who was Clara Adams?
In March of 1914 I had my first flight. This was at Lake Eustis, Florida. Walter E. Johnson, later a Captain in the U.S. Army during the World War, was the pilot. It was in a Thomas flying boat, which he and Mr. Charles Hermann constructed. We went up to only 700 ft. - a daring height in those pioneer days. I was a mere youngster but it was an expreience that marked the beginning of years of flying. I have never piloted a plane in spite of the great interest I have in flying.
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History of Graf Zepplins
The Century of Progress Exposition was a very successful World’s Fair held on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. The fair was originally scheduled to run from May 27 to November 12, 1933 but was reopened from May 26 to October 31, 1934 due to its popularity. Nearly 50 million visitors attended the fair. The arrival of the German dirigible Graf Zeppelin was considered a highlight of the 1933 World’s Fair.
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