# Ah, Spring. When the Zeppelins Return to London. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 7, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268 "2008-04-07T02:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/21 "2008-04-08T12:40:47Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] Barrage balloons. [/QUOTE] No! It’s true, I tell you! Also…why hasn’t this thread been visited by the Huge Manatee yet? ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/22 "2008-04-08T12:45:41Z")
Well spring is one of the best times to be in London sitting back with a pint outside and keep an eye out for Zeppelin racing. Tally ho and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/23 "2008-04-08T12:49:16Z")
Of course in California they have [autogiro jousting](http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/5932/86095.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/24 "2008-04-08T13:35:21Z")
If you’ll bear with a zeppelin-related hijack, how was it that [in all likelihood] a spark of static electricity immolated the _Hindenberg_ like a gasoline-soaked Buddhist monk trying his first Marlboro, while the zeppelin featured in **Flyboys** was peppered liberally with bullets, including IIRC some incendiary rounds, without failing, and was only destroyed when the Troubled But Expert Ace Pilot, mortally wounded in dogfighting by his arch-nemesis, did an acrobatic nosedive right into it? Were the makers of **Flyboys** really that clueless, or was their scenario for the zeppelin plausible? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/25 "2008-04-08T13:41:33Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] Of course in California they have [autogiro jousting](http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/5932/86095.jpg). [/QUOTE] Oh darling, it’s just something to amuse oneself with while waiting for the aspic to gell. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/26 "2008-04-08T14:20:57Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] If you’ll bear with a zeppelin-related hijack, how was it that [in all likelihood] a spark of static electricity immolated the _Hindenberg_ like a gasoline-soaked Buddhist monk trying his first Marlboro, [/QUOTE] I recall that the adhesive covering the Hindenberg was flammable. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/27 "2008-04-08T17:11:21Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] If you’ll bear with a zeppelin-related hijack, how was it that [in all likelihood] a spark of static electricity immolated the _Hindenberg_ like a gasoline-soaked Buddhist monk trying his first Marlboro, while the zeppelin featured in **Flyboys** was peppered liberally with bullets, including IIRC some incendiary rounds, without failing, and was only destroyed when the Troubled But Expert Ace Pilot, mortally wounded in dogfighting by his arch-nemesis, did an acrobatic nosedive right into it? Were the makers of **Flyboys** really that clueless, or was their scenario for the zeppelin plausible? [/QUOTE] Clueless is always the safe bet on movie makers insight into any particular subject. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/28 "2008-04-08T17:17:27Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I recall that the adhesive covering the Hindenberg was flammable. [/QUOTE] and the whole “filled with Hydrogen” piece may have contributed some. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/29 "2008-04-08T17:23:48Z")
[QUOTE=Death of Rats] and the whole “filled with Hydrogen” piece may have contributed some. [/QUOTE] That and forgetting to modify the phase harmonics of their deflector shields, idiots. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/30 "2008-04-08T17:32:37Z")
[QUOTE=Death of Rats] and the whole “filled with Hydrogen” piece may have contributed some. [/QUOTE] Sure, but having the covering burst into flame all by itself sucked, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/31 "2008-04-08T18:16:41Z")
[QUOTE=NaturalBlondChap] Well spring is one of the best times to be in London sitting back with a pint outside and keep an eye out for Zeppelin racing. Tally ho and all that. [/QUOTE] Yes, same here in Chicago. Spring is when the zeppelin races resume along the lakeshore. Tally ho indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/32 "2008-04-08T18:54:13Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Top hole. Bally Jerry pranged his kite right in the how’s your father. Hairy blighter, dicky-birdied, feathered back on his Sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harper’s and caught his can in the Bertie! [/QUOTE] I was going to post that! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/33 "2008-04-08T20:06:46Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Oh darling, it’s just something to amuse oneself with while waiting for the aspic to gell. [/QUOTE] I thought that little tramp Nita Olay was there for that. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/34 "2008-04-08T20:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=Death of Rats] and the whole “filled with Hydrogen” piece may have contributed some. [/QUOTE] You really have to wonder, don’t you? “What shall we use to cover up this enormous bag of explosive gas?” “I dunno… how about… thermite?” “Yeah! Let’s do it! What could possibly go wrong with that?” ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/35 "2008-04-08T20:58:33Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] You really have to wonder, don’t you? “What shall we use to cover up this enormous bag of explosive gas?” “I dunno… how about… thermite?” “Yeah! Let’s do it! What could possibly go wrong with that?” [/QUOTE] Well at least they thought enough to chain down the cigar lighters in the smoking lounge. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/36 "2008-04-08T21:09:26Z")
While we are hijacking; One of the stewards on the Hindenburg recounts how he kicked his way through the side of the airship and jumped out. Which gives one pause. What if a tipsy passenger fell against the side? Perhaps they were restricted to more secure areas of the vessel. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/37 "2008-04-08T21:18:39Z")
Headline! **Germany Proposes to Send Massive Numbers of Tourists to England by Landing Barges and Parachute!** We will put them in matching suits and march them in an orderly fashin to popular tourist attractions like Parliament and Windsor Castle", says German Minister Herman “Binky” Goering. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/38 "2008-04-08T21:21:25Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Top hole. Bally Jerry pranged his kite right in the how’s your father. Hairy blighter, dicky-birdied, feathered back on his Sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harper’s and caught his can in the Bertie! [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=BMalion] Something wrong with my banter, chaps? [/QUOTE] You know, there is something about that W.E. Johns style of dialogue that just escapes me. Every word of it sounds like it’s English, but the whole thing makes no sense at all. But I hope that Bally Jerry is on his way to recovery: it sounds like what he did might have been quite painful. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/39 "2008-04-08T21:27:28Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] **Germany Proposes to Send Massive Numbers of Tourists to England by Landing Barges and Parachute!** [/QUOTE] I do not say they will not come, Sir. I say they will not come by sea. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268/40 "2008-04-08T21:42:18Z")
How soon will they start running Zeppelin tours from the Empire State Building, here in the US? (Yes, the Empire State Building has a docking collar for Zeppelins. No, it was never put to serious use as a passenger transfer station. IIRC it was only only added to steal a march on the Chrysler Building, and never intended to be put to actual regular use. I have no idea what condition it might be in these days. Somehow I have visions of nearly three-quarters of a century accumulation of guano fouling the works.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-spring-when-the-zeppelins-return-to-london/444268.md?page=3)