By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Seven decades after a series of catastrophes ended the age of the airship, the zeppelin remains an evocative image, and these floating giants could be due to return.
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Seven decades after a series of catastrophes ended the age of the airship, the zeppelin remains an evocative image, and these floating giants could be due to return.
It is among the most iconic images of the 20th Century. The Hindenburg, a monstrous zeppelin, is consumed by fire at Lakehurst, New Jersey. A technological Icarus that flew too close to the sun.
It is among the most iconic images of the 20th Century. The Hindenburg, a monstrous zeppelin, is consumed by fire at Lakehurst, New Jersey. A technological Icarus that flew too close to the sun.
The demise of the Hindenburg marked both the beginning of modern broadcast news and the beginning of the end for the golden age of the airship.
The demise of the Hindenburg marked both the beginning of modern broadcast news and the beginning of the end for the golden age of the airship.
Herbert Morrison's electrifying radio account of the disaster with its plaintive cry of "Oh the humanity" still resonates.
Herbert Morrison's electrifying radio account of the disaster with its plaintive cry of "Oh the humanity" still resonates.
What not to think of: Hindenburg
What not to think of: Hindenburg
The length of three jumbo jets, the Hindenburg was a truly remarkable piece of engineering. It represented the towering aspiration of trying to tame physics and cross the globe in the air.
The length of three jumbo jets, the Hindenburg was a truly remarkable piece of engineering. It represented the towering aspiration of trying to tame physics and cross the globe in the air.
Today, nothing on its scale remains. The British-built Spirit of Dubai claims to be the world's largest commercial airship and yet it would fit inside the Hindenburg many times over.
Today, nothing on its scale remains. The British-built Spirit of Dubai claims to be the world's largest commercial airship and yet it would fit inside the Hindenburg many times over.
Its pilot, Peter Buckley is heartily sick of the three or four times each day he is asked about its flammable predecessor. No, it is not full of hydrogen. No, it will not crash. Or burn.
Its pilot, Peter Buckley is heartily sick of the three or four times each day he is asked about its flammable predecessor. No, it is not full of hydrogen. No, it will not crash. Or burn.
For the airship virgin the most alarming thing is take-off. Instead of the long run-up of a fixed wing aircraft, an airship simply points upward at 45 degrees and goes.
For the airship virgin the most alarming thing is take-off. Instead of the long run-up of a fixed wing aircraft, an airship simply points upward at 45 degrees and goes.
Taking off from Fairoaks airport in Surrey, amongst the buzzing of the light aircraft and helicopters, it is a majestic bumble bee to a cloud of fruit flies.
Taking off from Fairoaks airport in Surrey, among the buzzing of the light aircraft and helicopters, it is a majestic bumble bee to a cloud of fruit flies.
Swanning around the sky
Swanning around the sky
An airship is nothing like a plane. The turns involve no banking, the passengers are unstressed by excessive G-forces. Everything is calm and smooth. It's all rather like scanning around on a yacht.
An airship is nothing like a plane. The turns involve no banking, the passengers are unstressed by excessive G-forces. Everything is calm and smooth. It's all rather like scanning around on a yacht.
I used it for scenery. It is picturesque Philip PullmanAuthor
I used it for scenery. It is picturesque Philip PullmanAuthor
Drifting low over the London Eye, the passengers wave furiously at the airship, which they surely would not do so readily for more mundane forms of air transport.
Drifting low over the London Eye, the passengers wave furiously at the airship, which they surely would not do so readily for more mundane forms of air transport.
The ship is about to embark on a journey across Europe and the Middle East acting as a floating billboard for the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's enormous development in the shape of a palm on land reclaimed from the sea.
The ship is about to embark on a journey across Europe and the Middle East acting as a floating billboard for the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's enormous development in the shape of a palm on land reclaimed from the sea.
The airship will pass over the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Coliseum, the Parthenon and the Great Pyramids on its way to the Palm. It seems appropriate that one great engineering project is represented by the successor of another, the Hindenburg.
The airship will pass over the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, the Parthenon and the Great Pyramids on its way to the Palm. It seems appropriate that one great engineering project is represented by the successor of another, the Hindenburg.
Enduring image
Enduring image
Although the great German zeppelin is gone, its smooth lines remain imprinted on the popular consciousness.
Although the great German zeppelin is gone, its smooth lines remain imprinted on the popular consciousness.
In the recent Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, the movie starts with a successor to the Hindenburg docking with the top of the Empire State Building.
In the recent film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, the movie starts with a successor to the Hindenburg docking with the top of the Empire State Building.
While for mainstream commercial purposes, the disasters of the 1930s and the advances in aeroplane technology during World War II spelt the end for airships, their sleek cigar shapes live on in popular culture.
While for mainstream commercial purposes, the disasters of the 1930s and the advances in aeroplane technology during World War II spelt the end for airships, their sleek cigar shapes live on in popular culture.
It is a staple of the genre known as "alternative history". Anybody wanting to conjure up the idea of technological cul-de-sacs reborn or to represent the ostentatious luxury of the 1930s goes straight for the airship.
It is a staple of the genre known as "alternative history". Anybody wanting to conjure up the idea of technological cul-de-sacs reborn or to represent the ostentatious luxury of the 1930s goes straight for the airship.
On a clear day, you can see...
On a clear day, you can see...
From recent episodes of Doctor Who to Indiana Jones to the cover of Led Zeppelin's first album, the icon of the airship adds colour.
From recent episodes of Doctor Who to Indiana Jones to the cover of Led Zeppelin's first album, the icon of the airship adds colour.
Author Philip Pullman populates his alternative universe in the His Dark Materials trilogy with airship travel, and CGI representations will feature heavily in the upcoming movie.
Author Philip Pullman populates his alternative universe in the His Dark Materials trilogy with airship travel, and CGI representations will feature heavily in the upcoming movie.
"I used it for scenery. It is picturesque. The curious notion of something that is lighter than air is fascinating to begin with.
"I used it for scenery. It is picturesque. The curious notion of something that is lighter than air is fascinating to begin with.
"There are also associations with glamour and luxury, the idea of sipping champagne as you cross the Atlantic. And it ties into our feelings about the threat that conventional aviation poses to the environment."
"There are also associations with glamour and luxury, the idea of sipping champagne as you cross the Atlantic. And it ties into our feelings about the threat that conventional aviation poses to the environment."
But the rebirth of the airship is not just in fiction.
But the rebirth of the airship is not just in fiction.
Projects in the UK, Germany, the wider EU and in California are looking at creating airships for a range of tasks from fighting forest fires, to hunting Kalahari diamonds to working as an air-borne cruise liner.
Projects in the UK, Germany, the wider EU and in California are looking at creating airships for a range of tasks from fighting forest fires, to hunting Kalahari diamonds to working as an air-borne cruise liner.
Return of the zeppelin?
Return of the zeppelin?
But Dick Chadburn, chairman of the Airship Association, does not believe mass transportation or freight-carrying is on the cards for airships anytime soon.
But Dick Chadburn, chairman of the Airship Association, does not believe mass transportation or freight-carrying is on the cards for airships anytime soon.
He points to a previous failed project in Germany as evidence that the industry tends to attract visionaries but often suffers financial failure.
He points to a previous failed project in Germany as evidence that the industry tends to attract visionaries but often suffers financial failure.
More a submarine than a plane
More a submarine than a plane
As a former engineer and a manager at Shell, he first encountered airships when an, ultimately doomed, plan was hatched within the company to avoid the vicissitudes of Middle Eastern pipeline politics and instead bring gas to Europe in gigantic blimps.
The former engineer and manager at Shell first encountered airships when a plan - ultimately doomed - was hatched within the company to avoid the vicissitudes of Middle Eastern pipeline politics and instead bring gas to Europe in giant blimps.
"The sheer scale of the thing. That attracted me. It appealed to me to think of something that would just float," says Mr Chadburn.
"The sheer scale of the thing. That attracted me. It appealed to me to think of something that would just float," says Mr Chadburn.
"They are more like ships than aeroplanes. A submarine is the closest thing to an airship.
"They are more like ships than aeroplanes. A submarine is the closest thing to an airship.
"They remind you of a benign creature, rather like a slower dolphin or a whale the way they move through the atmosphere. They have a rather mystical appearance, the sort of thing that magicians or fairies might operate."
"They remind you of a benign creature, rather like a slower dolphin or a whale the way they move through the atmosphere. They have a rather mystical appearance, the sort of thing that magicians or fairies might operate."
But one thing might just come to the rescue of the airship concept, the former oil-man believes.
But one thing might just come to the rescue of the airship concept, the former oil-man believes.
"In a world with very limited fossil fuels or restricted use of fossil fuels you have got to go back to the technology of your great grandfather - no cars, but bicycles. The airships could form part of that."
"In a world with very limited fossil fuels or restricted use of fossil fuels you have got to go back to the technology of your great grandfather - no cars, but bicycles. The airships could form part of that."
The Spirit of Dubai boasts that during a week of operations it uses less fuel than a Boeing 767 uses to get from gate to runway.
The Spirit of Dubai boasts that during a week of operations it uses less fuel than a Boeing 767 uses to get from gate to runway.
But the real glittering possibility for the airship aficionados is that future advances in solar panel technology could render them light enough to plaster over the airship's large surface area and render it an effective means of transport.
But the real, glittering possibility for the airship aficionados is that future advances in solar panel technology could render them light enough to plaster over the airship's large surface area and make it an effective means of mass transport.
Until then, the zeppelins of fiction will have to do.
Until then, the zeppelins of fiction will have to do.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Finally people are again thinking creatively about transportation in ways that will reduce cost to the environment. Looking at the impact of modern air travel makes me think that Herbert Morrison's words are once more relevant.I look forward to more airships in the sky and more design engineers being encouraged to use their imagination.Andrew Rodger, London, UK
Zeppelins are alive, well and flying around the Bodensee in Southern Germany. They are made by the Zeppelin company in the historic home of the Zeppelin.Michael, Friedrichshafen Germany
I assume the fuel efficiency you cite includes the energy needed to produce the helium gas?JP, Cheltenham, UK
Great. The question that comes to my mind is: would it be possible to use airships as long-range mass transport? If I want to cross the Atlantic right now, I can just take a plane and be there in 10 hours, door to door. Large ships would do this in a few days. And an airship? Could this be the answer to the future fuel crisis?Paul, Glasgow
There must be a market of excessively rich who would want to lounge around the world on one of these things. I don't see the appeal of a Ocean Cruise but I would buy a ticket tomorrow for a graceful air cruise around the world.Alastair, Reading
I have always been entranced by airships, just the sight off them is calming and the prospect of their being a green transport medium is delightful. Even the pictures are sunny here - at last, some good news.Steven, London, UK
Impressive that it uses less fuel than a Boeing 767 taxiing to a runway in a week. But does this mean we will have to allow several days to fly from Heathrow to Edinburgh?Andrew Moreland, Ashby-de la-Zouch
