Warbird Information Exchange

Thats right, I forgot!

Thats right, I forgot!

My vote for the most complex warbird goes to ....

a Zeppelin !



The bill to build a replica of one of these would make a billionaire shudder

(just noticed BDK mentioned the Zeppelin at the beggining of the thread , oh well , my vote still stands )

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Aussie expat lost in Indonesia

Yeah OK, it's BIG, but otherwise I'm not sure that I agree. What exactly is it about a zeppelin that you think is so "complex" or expensive? Can you explain your position further?

I'm guessing that the steel framework is pretty simple and not even up to "real" aviation structural standards. (Does it have to withstand 3 g's or more?) You don't need A&P mechanics to rivet it together - all you need are some old bridge workers.

Better yet, to build a zeppelin, all you have to do is wrap an old truss-type bridge in canvas, dope & seal it, and pump it full of gas (preferably helium, please!)

Hi Rajay,



Ok , if the Russians built airships in the 1920s I would agree with you but with the Germans engineering is taken to a complex art form.

Main reason for complexity is the sheer size of the beast , the logistics of assembling a Zeppelin would require a huge hangar , enormous manpower etc.

Then all the components, fittings etc would have to be built from scratch as there aren't lots of disused Zeppelins or Zeppelin parts laying around.

Have a look at the duralumin truss work in the lower left hand corner of the picture below , this isn't bridge construction



And there's MILES of it






787 feet in length and 115 feet in height

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Aussie expat lost in Indonesia

Not to mention a few HUNDRED ground crew!!!!

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If the first casualty of war is innocence, the second is sobriety - Hawkeye.
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If you are going through he11 - keep going - Churchill

Guess again, or have a look at the published data on the development of airships. Don't kid yourself that they were anything but the cutting edge of aviation technology in their day, and it's clear you've missed the critical point of the massive requirement for weight saving - something to match the modern airliner building business with the demands.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Other than trying to get the previous poster to explain his position beyond just throwing "zeppelin" out there on its own, everything else about that post of mine, especially the bridge construction references, was just an attempt at some light humor. Obviously, it was lame and fell flat since none of you seemed to take it that way.

A Zero: Lot's of small parts. Or Hurricane, very English.

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"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!" R.R.

Welcome to the USSA! One Nanny State Under the Messiah, Indivisible with Tyranny, Higher Taxes, Socialism, Radical Environmentalism and a Loss of Income for all. Boy I'm proud to be a part of the USSA, what can I do to raise taxes, oh boy oh boy!

I still in awe of how complex the truss work is (lower left photo) , in the upper left photo the seemingly simple trusswork of the modern airship pictured is made from .... carbon fibre

Your intentions and humor is noted Squirrel , as long as Moose stays in retirement all is well. Best regards Boris and Natasha

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Aussie expat lost in Indonesia