I don't know if anyone has seen the PBS program "Secrets of the Dead" about the Hindenburg. I saw it tonight and it was fascinating. Addison Bain, former NASA hydrogen program manager, has determined beyond doubt that the airship fire was caused by ignition of the fabric cover due to static discharge. He obtained a sample of the fabric and discovered it was doped with powdered iron oxide and powdered aluminum in a matrix. Sound familiar? The whole darned dirigible was coated with SOLID ROCKET FUEL! If you look at the film, the whole outside of the ship was consumed in flame while it was still in the air. Eyewitness accounts all mention the bright orange-yellow flames. Hydrogen, of course, burns with no color at all.

Addison further found records at the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshaven which showed that the Zepplin Co. did similar tests after the disaster and came to the exact same conclusion. But they hid the results, probably for insurance reasons.

Wow. Not only does this lay to rest the "dangers" of hydrogen as a fuel, but also lay to rest the "dangers" of hydrogen as a buoyancy gas in lighter than air ships. It is cheaper to produce than helium. Will we see more airships in the future? There have certainly been lots of paper studies and designs. As many as for futuristic spaceships. I wonder.

Anyway, the program was fascinating. I highly recommend it.