[ATM] ATM: Whimsical, capricious nature of paraboloid (figuring it)

["David Harbour" <scarab2@cox.net>]

To all:

I know of two radically different technologies of which the experts have
said the same thing.

Many of you know that my other love is flying. Of course my other love is
telescope making; however, two experts in both fields have said the same
thing about their technologies. Texereau (I am pretty sure) said that he'd
never figured a mirror over ten inches' diameter (and I paraphrase): "that
did not show me some new whim or another".

Captain Von Schiller had the same thing to say about the GIGANTIC airships
he landed (never had an accident). He said approximately the same thing:
that each landing presented new and differerent challenges upon landing.

For those of you who do not know (and it is surprising how many don't)- in
the thirties, several of the nations of the world built gigantic airships,
with a RIGID framework of metal to hold the giant gas containing cells to
lift it into the air. The first two were the British R-100 (very successful,
despite being inflated by hydrogen) and the R-101 (a disaster befell it,
because of the same beaurocratic interference that destroyed the Challenger
space shuttle).

These ships were strongly built, with duraluminum and stainless steel
frames; the R-101 was 777 feet long, with luxuriously appointed cabins in
it, and had an ultra strong hull made of stainless steel..

World War II stopped the development of the giant rigid airship, although
the U.S. gave up before WW II. Only Germany persisted until WW-II (they were
the world's experts).

The "Durand" committee concluded, after investigating the loss of our giant
rigids, the  "Akron" and the "Macon" (near twins of the Hindenburg except
for their advanced swiveling propellers on all eight engines and three keels
instead of one)) that rigid airship technology was viable , and could be
made safe (there was a fatal, stupid flaw in the main spars of the two navy
ships' fins; Dr. Durr recommended against it, but the navy insisted, and the
fins failed at the joints that Dr. Durr advised against- he said carry the
main spars all the way through the hull, but the navy decided to be stupid
about this).Dr. Durr designed the immently successful "Hindenburg"- too bad
the department of defense wouldn't give them the helium they promised the
Zeppelin company earlier.The Hindenburg was designed for Helium, not
Hydrogen. It did not crash, but only caught fire. Many believe it was
sabotage.

Dave


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