At work.
Sorry for not being able to quote sources.
I regards to one of the lost American Zepps? The Acron I think. I am sure it was not just 'The storm.' as is oft quoted.
From memory and again I apologize for having access to sources atm BUT said machine was an 'expatrated' vehicle taken from Germany after armistice of WW 1.
Following taking delivery the American's re-worked her so as to take on specialty modified fighters. Of which I think she could carry 6 to 8.
Her engines were also mounted within her centre line, driving propellers by extension shaft. The up side being that said props could, in fact rotate to assist in maneuvering. The down side that the stern props were inljne with the forwards and hence suffered sone efficiency loss due to the formers 'Prop wash'.
Now.... in the process of her conversion/lengthening, her stern lower rudder was no longer actually attatched to her spine, or keel. Hence, during said storm, this was the point of failure and leading to her loss.
Also of note, her compliment of fighters had not alighted aboard either but with the loss of their mother ship (And the government disinclined to building a replacement. Even with the corrections of her defect) I think they sadly spent their remaing years as novelties and possible trainers.
Now, were she properly structurally refitted, then an airship loitering in the 'Atlantic gap' with a brace of recoverable and dangerous fighters would have been quite a welcome thing for those souls facing the wolf packs.
As for the max altitude of Zepps? I too did not know the max envelope characteristics and though their limit below 10k was just due to the primitive state of pressurization technology of the day.
Sorry for not being able to quote sources.
I regards to one of the lost American Zepps? The Acron I think. I am sure it was not just 'The storm.' as is oft quoted.
From memory and again I apologize for having access to sources atm BUT said machine was an 'expatrated' vehicle taken from Germany after armistice of WW 1.
Following taking delivery the American's re-worked her so as to take on specialty modified fighters. Of which I think she could carry 6 to 8.
Her engines were also mounted within her centre line, driving propellers by extension shaft. The up side being that said props could, in fact rotate to assist in maneuvering. The down side that the stern props were inljne with the forwards and hence suffered sone efficiency loss due to the formers 'Prop wash'.
Now.... in the process of her conversion/lengthening, her stern lower rudder was no longer actually attatched to her spine, or keel. Hence, during said storm, this was the point of failure and leading to her loss.
Also of note, her compliment of fighters had not alighted aboard either but with the loss of their mother ship (And the government disinclined to building a replacement. Even with the corrections of her defect) I think they sadly spent their remaing years as novelties and possible trainers.
Now, were she properly structurally refitted, then an airship loitering in the 'Atlantic gap' with a brace of recoverable and dangerous fighters would have been quite a welcome thing for those souls facing the wolf packs.
As for the max altitude of Zepps? I too did not know the max envelope characteristics and though their limit below 10k was just due to the primitive state of pressurization technology of the day.