ISOTX_Community
06-26-2012, 07:55 AM
http://www.isotx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/FallingAirship01.jpg
Long ago, in the early days of airship usage, Confederate engineers constructed a ‘height climber’ airship, designed for extremely high altitude flight. They had been intended for use in bombing raids where no defense or retaliation would be possible, or potentially for surprise attacks in airship fleet engagements. Based on accounts from the time, the design of the airship was effective, but while the airship could withstand the height, the crew could not. A limited understanding of atmospheric pressure and the effect of altitude on the human body meant the crew of the first prototype didn’t know what they were getting into.
http://www.isotx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Crashsite01.jpg
It was only when the fatigue, nausea, headaches, constant coughing and faint-headedness became too much that they recognized the danger and started the airship descending – much too late. By the time the prototype crashed into the ground, the crew was unconscious or dead from altitude sickness. Research into equipment to improve survival rates at these altitudes is ongoing.
Also check out our brand new T-Shirts at the ISOTX Shop (http://www.isotx.com/?page_id=3825)!
Long ago, in the early days of airship usage, Confederate engineers constructed a ‘height climber’ airship, designed for extremely high altitude flight. They had been intended for use in bombing raids where no defense or retaliation would be possible, or potentially for surprise attacks in airship fleet engagements. Based on accounts from the time, the design of the airship was effective, but while the airship could withstand the height, the crew could not. A limited understanding of atmospheric pressure and the effect of altitude on the human body meant the crew of the first prototype didn’t know what they were getting into.
http://www.isotx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Crashsite01.jpg
It was only when the fatigue, nausea, headaches, constant coughing and faint-headedness became too much that they recognized the danger and started the airship descending – much too late. By the time the prototype crashed into the ground, the crew was unconscious or dead from altitude sickness. Research into equipment to improve survival rates at these altitudes is ongoing.
Also check out our brand new T-Shirts at the ISOTX Shop (http://www.isotx.com/?page_id=3825)!