As we look further into the airships of the past, it is important to consider the infrastructure that was in place to service this large-scale, affordable air industry. To understand how you board an airship, let’s first have a look at the loading mechanisms that were used (see photos below).
These semi-permanent structures could be erected in almost any location. This means that air ships could carry supplies and people to normally inaccessible locations.
It is in the cities is where things become interesting, and questions begin to build over so many of our landmark buildings.
These building had other functions some of which are still being used today. The other functions will be covered in later posts about energy harvesting, etc. Many of the buildings had ornate entrances at the top of the building where people would board an airship. The top was also the place where people would facilitate air travel of the airships.
Without doubt, the tallest mooring mast ever designed was the spire of the Empire State Building which was originally constructed to serve as a mooring mast, although soon after converted for use as a television and radio transmitter tower due to the discovered infeasibility of mooring an airship, for any length of time, to a very tall mast in the middle of an urban area.
Rare Historical Photos
