What was the lifting agent used for the German passenger airship LZ 129, Hindenburg?

Hydrogen is the lifting agent used in the Hindenburg. Though the Hindenburg was originally designed for helium, a non-flammable gas because most of the world's supply of helium comes from natural gas fields in the United States, which had banned its export under the Helium Control Act (1927), the builders at Luftschiffbau Zeppelin had to adjust to using hydrogen.

The switch from helium to hydrogen did not cause much concern because of the Germans extensive experience with hydrogen as a lifting gas and that accidental hydrogen fires had never occurred on civilian Zeppelins.

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57 Comments

Larry Freeman

Hydrogen is highly flammable... especially dangerous because it burns without visible flames. When I used to transport hydrogen, we would check for leaks around control valves by waving a whisk broom around--if there was a leak the broom would catch fire.

Chris Sitler

I love the fake answer Liftonium! I wanted to click that answer just to show my appreciation.

patrhea

I love reading the comments on here. We have a few trollers on occasionally to ignore, but for the most are such wonderful people. The commentators express and reflect their life's experiences with the rest of us. The comments you share are wonderful and educational in themselves.. Thank you for sharing on here. You ALL are so brilliantly interesting and intelligent.

billyboy915

Kay Van Natta, Although "wouldn't have" sounds a bit like "wouldn't of", it is NEVER correct to use the word "of" in this manner.

Conrado De Leon

No, dears. The gas used was helium. They were forced to use hydrogen because of political differences with Germany. Had they been loaded with helium the disaster wouldn't have taken place, since helium does not burn.

Kim McDonald

Larry Freeman, Yikes!

earlepg

Allan Dowton, However, the question asks "what was the lifting agent (actually) used". "Designed for" is irrevellent.

David Coe

"Cavorite" is a fictional material invented by Professor Cavor and used to coat his space vehicle in Jules Verne's story "From the Earth to The Moon"

tbear

Darlene Davidson, remember watching the old newsreels and remember hearing the reporter saying " Oh the humanity, " over and over while they were filming as it was actually happening!