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Why did the Hindenburg burn so quickly?

About the Hindenburg
 * May 6, 1937: the Hindenburg flew from Europe to New York
 * It is the largest rigid airship ever built
 * First flight in March 1936; Last flight May 1937
 * 804 feet long (more than 2.5 football fields)
 * While landing in Lakehurst, New Jersey, a flame appeared on outer cover of the rear
 * Took 34 seconds to completely burn
 * 97 people on board, 36 died in fire
 * Contained 200 000m^3 of Hydrogen gas
 * On the rear were huge Swastika signs, lead to theories of sabotage causing this disaster

[|Watch the HIndenburg]

Theories: why it burnt so quickly?

One of the most widely regarded theories of how its caught fire was the static spark theory: which states that the cover of the Hindenburg collected a static charge from the humid weather in New Jersey and was unable to distribute it equally, which created a spark that ignited the hydrogen gas

Another theory is based on the skin of the airship, discovered by retired NASA scientist Addison Bain, states that the “dope” paint cover on the zeppelin created a spark and is the reason the Hindenburg catch fire which ignited the H gas and is the reason for the speed at which the airship burned. The dope, a paint-like covering on top of the 100% cotton cloth, was supposed to reflect heat and light from the H gas in the blimp. On the bottom half of the zeppelin were 3 coats of dope containing butyrate* aluminum powder (*conjugate base of butanoic acid). While on the top half was 1 coat of butyrate and iron oxide and then 3 coats of butyrate and aluminum. When properly mixed, Al and FeO2 create a powerful thermite= pyrotechnic composition of a metal powder and metal oxide the produces short bursts of extremely high temperature. Critics believe the proportions and the way the elements were layered would ensure no thermite reaction. Recent studies have almost proved part of this theory wrong, stating that the H is the reason it burnt so quickly because an experiment showed it would’ve taken 12 hours to burn without H present.

It is also believed that there was a hydrogen leak. Either by the captain releasing some H in a rushed landing or a wire holding the shape of the Hindenburg broke free the punctured the covering. This would cause the H to mix with the air, filling the spaces between the gas cells.

Another important point to cover is why H gas was used, when even high school students know it is easily flammable and a very reactive element. This was because of a military embargo placed on Germany which enabled them to buy He from the U.S. However, H gave the blimp a better lift.

To summarize, the main theory behind this disaster is that some form of spark ignited the 200 000 m^3 of H causing the Hindenburg to burn in 34 seconds. Whether it was due to the dope covering consisting of iron oxide and aluminum butyrates, the hydrogen leak or static build up is still a mystery.

Watch- [|MythBusters: Hindenburg Disaster]

  Bibliography

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Rosenburg., J. (2007). Hindenburg disaster. About.com, Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Grossman., D. (2009, April 29). The hindenburg and other zeppelins [Web log message]. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Savage., A. (Performer), & Hyneman., J. (Performer). (2007). Episode 70: hindenburg mystery [Television series episode]. In (Executive producer), Myth Busters. Discovery Channel. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">[[]]

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">NATALIE BEATON