Spike Jones wrote:
> You are mosta the way there with one of these light gases.
> I chooooooose.... helium, and I dont hafta worry about
> collapse of a highly stressed structure or a Hindenburgesque
> kerboom. spike
Although, of course, recent research has shown that the Hindenburg disaster
was caused by electrical sparking across outer-sheath panels*, which were
coated in a reflective 'paint'. Alas, this reflective 'paint' was a new
concoction, which was incredibly flammable. It was the ignition of the outer
covering which caused the problem, and only after the craft was already
doomed, and half-way to the ground, did the hydrogen ignite. Even with an
helium filling the damage would have been huge and fatal.
*Movement through the air had caused a potential difference between stern
and bow. The attaching of the mooring tether, which was wet, since it was
raining, had earthed the ship, but not all of the outer panels were
electrically connected, and hence the p.d. between some adjacent panels
caused the necessary spark.
Sarah
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