The
development of the rigid airship was one of a triumph of technology
and an enhancement of working with nature. The rigid airship
was a series of gas balloons enclosed in a rigid framework,
over which doped fabric was stretched and sewn in to place to
form an other protection of the bags. Both the R100 and R101
were the first airships to break with the normal design concepts
and have the passenger accommodation within the airship hull
itself.
Seen here
is a gas bag inflated and in place. The passenger accommodation
can be seen clearly illuminated at the bottom of the ship transversing
from one side of the hull, to the other.
With
the idea of covering long distances in an airship which was designed
to cover some 5,000 miles, and transverse oceans, comfort to passengers
was a priority. In comparison to the aeroplanes which could only
seat a few passengers in a cramped cabin for a short time, the
airship was in a different league altogether being compared to
ocean liners. Many of the design ideas were indeed taken from
the contemporary liners and styles of the day.
Select
the airship interior you would like to visit.
