90 years ago today - Macon follows Akron
The US airship Macon (ZRS-5) took off on its maiden voyage on 21 April 1933. However, the joyous event took place only 17 days after the crash of its sister ship Akron (ZRS-4), which killed 73 of 76 people on board.
With a length of almost 240 m and a volume of 180,000 cbm, both airships were the largest ever to be filled with helium. They served the US Navy as long-range reconnaissance aircraft and could accommodate up to five Curtiss F9C ("Sparrowhawk") fighter planes as flying aircraft carriers.
After 50 flights, the Macon met the same fate as the Akron on 12 February 1935, sealing the end of the USA’s rigid airship programme. In its crash, in which two of 83 crew members lost their lives, the Macon took the four aircraft on board with it into the depths of the Pacific. Their wrecks were not rediscovered until 1991. (ah)