One of the most famous disasters in history is none other than the crash of the German airship the Hindenburg. The ship itself was three hundred yards long, and had 7 million cubic feet of hydrogen. It was quite a sight, with its German marks embroidered on the tail fins. It was the largest airship ever built.
Filled inside the zeppelin was our wonderful element hydrogen. Since hydrogen is a cheap, invisible but extremely flammable gas, it caused the Hindenburg. to explode while it attempted to land from its Atlantic journey in New Jersey. The substance used in aircraft like the Hindenburg now is helium. Although helium is much more expensive, its not flammable and therefore is less of a hazard. The reason for this explosion on the Hindenburg is still unknown at this time, although it is suspected that the craft was sabotaged from a bomb. The other explanation was a leak in the hull caused from a bolt of lightning from an electrical storm the Hindenburg. passed. Although, in my research, I found a website that claimed the a NASA scientist found the true cause of the explosion. He claimed, "Neither the hydrogen in the hull nor a bomb was to blame, but a special fabric for the outer skin that, when ignited, burns like dry leaves (qtd. © VIDICOM Media Productions 1998, http://www.vidicom-tv.com/txhiburg.htm)." I believe, however, that the Hindenburg was sabotaged, and that the extremely flammable element hydrogen led to the Third Reich's creation downfall.
The engineers who designed the Hindenburg obviously did not intend for its destruction. The final results to this experiment with not to use hydrogen as a cheaper substance for zeppelins and dirigibles. But, another effect that has taken place since the Hindenburg disaster is the fact that zeppelins have not been used for human transportation ever again (excluding advertising blimps). As seen in the picture, hydrogen reacted very badly towards the flames as seen below.
