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I'm wondering if anyone has any info on actual zeppelin or blimp aircraft that were used to transport and/or launch smaller aircraft, most likely for military use. I have heard a reference to this being done in the 1930s, but my research led me to the R33, which might have done this as far back as 1916 or 1917. Anyone have any info on this?
I believe the Zeppelins were in use toward the end of World War I when the bi-plane became a dependable airframe for combat sorties. I suppose their main purpose was to extend the range of the planes by conserving fuel. They were extremely vulnerable to attack though, and quickly became obsolete. Balloons were first used in combat roles in the American Civil War as spotters for field artillery. They were quite effective in this role.
I would have to do some research, but I think some of the early U.S. airships were capable of carrying fixed wing aircraft. The Shanandoa comes to mind.
USS Macon (ZRS-5) was a rigid frame airship built and operated by the United States Navy for scouting. In service for less than two years, in 1935 Macon was damaged in a storm and lost off the coast of California.She was built in Akron, Ohio by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation, christened on March 11, 1933 by Jeanette Whitton Moffett (wife of Rear Admiral William A. Moffett), and first flew one month later, only a few weeks after the tragic loss of her sister ship Akron (ZRS-4). Macon was commissioned on June 23, 1933 with Commander Alger H. Dresel in command.The Macon had 12 helium-filled gas cells made from gelatine-latex fabric. Designed to carry five F9C Sparrowhawk biplanes, Macon received her first aircraft on board July 6, 1933 during trial flights out of Lakehurst, New Jersey. The planes were stored in bays inside the hull and were launched and retrieved using a trapezeThe Akron was also fitted to carry and launch aircraft
F9C-2 characteristics:Dimensions: Wing Span, 25.5 feet; Length, 21.1 feet; Wing Area, 185.4 square feet.Weights: Empty, 2114 pounds; Gross, 2776 pounds Powerplant: One 400 horsepower Wright R-975-22 single-row radial engine.Armament: Two .30 caliber fixed forward-firing machine guns.Performance (at 2776 pounds): Maximum Speed, 176.5 miles per hour.for pictures go to:http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-usn22/f-types/f9c.htm
F9C-2 characteristics:Dimensions: Wing Span, 25.5 feet; Length, 21.1 feet; Wing Area, 185.4 square feet.Weights: Empty, 2114 pounds; Gross, 2776 pounds Powerplant: One 400 horsepower Wright R-975-22 single-row radial engine.Armament: Two .30 caliber fixed forward-firing machine guns.Performance (at 2776 pounds): Maximum Speed, 176.5 miles per hour.for pictures go to:http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-usn22/f-types/f9c.htm
Wow, thats bigger and more powerful then I had imagined. 400 Hp motors, you say inline? how many cylinders?
This is interesting to read about. I saw the article where you got it from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Macon_(ZRS-5)and it mentions that when it crashed it had a crew of 76 people of which only two died (apparently from not following protocol). Also, it mentioned that a "trapeze" was used to retrieve planes. I wonder how this was done. It seems like getting planes back on board would have been a big challenge.
I believe the trapeze was lowered by a winch and the plane engaged the trapeze with the hook above cockpit and were winched into interior.The engines were not inline they were single row radial(round) engines. I don't know how many cylinders but a lot of the radials were nine cylinders.I saw a program on TV recently where they had located the wreckage of the Macon and had pictures of the planes under water.
How fast were the zeppelin carriers? It seems the plans would have to go pretty slow to catch the trapeze, wasnt there a danger of stalling out?
I read in the article that there was an unmanned expedition to the wreck in September of this past year.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Macon_(ZRS-5)#2006_expedition It seems that an aerial aircraft carrier would have clear benefits to it, though it would also have cleard disadvantages as well. Some of the disadvantages weren't in existence back in the 1930s.
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