Sky Sailors : The Story of the World's Airshipmen

This is the story of the ''sky sailors'' - the men who pioneered a mode of air transport that today is virtually forgotten. During the period 1890-1910, airshipmen greatly outnumbered aeroplane pioneers, but aircraft innovations, two world wars and airship disasters brought the time of the airship to an end. It is only proper that before time expunges all trace of them, the exploits of these intrepid men are placed on record. In Sky Sailors, Ces Mowthorpe describes the early days of airships, mixing narrative with first-hand accounts by airshipmen from England, Germany, Italy and the USA. His account begins in Paris in the 1890s, moving on to examine the Blimps and Zeppelins of the First World War, interwar developments, the use of airships for anti-submarine patrols in the Second World War, civilian operators and the fatal disasters of the Hindenberg, R101 and Shenandoah. This fascinating and fully illustrated study will inspire and appeal to all with an interest in aviation history.