Episode #012321: Selects: How Blimps Work

After newsreels captured the Hindenburg erupting in fire in 1937, the promising development of airship aviation was cut short. Today companies and militaries are taking another look at blimps and the unique qualities that may revive them. Learn all about it in this classic episode.

AI Summary

# How Blimps Work

Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating world of blimps, exploring their surprisingly simple mechanics and surprisingly dramatic history. From the tragic Hindenburg disaster in 1937 to the iconic Goodyear blimps you see floating over football games today, they break down how these lighter-than-air aircraft actually stay aloft using helium, how pilots steer them with just a few basic controls, and why they might be the future of cargo delivery. They also tackle the mysterious helium shortage and some wild military experiments, like the Navy's plan to land planes on top of blimps.

Movies Discussed

Black Sunday

1977 2h 23m

★ 6.7

"They also were good sports in a movie called Black Sunday. Do you ever see that movie? — The Goodyear blimp was used in the movie Black Sunday, which featured a plot involving a blimp attack on the Super Bowl." — Chuck

The Silence of the Lambs

1991 1h 59m

★ 8.3

"It was written by the guy who wrote Silence of the Lambs. Oh, yeah, he's a good writer. — The screenwriter of Black Sunday also wrote The Silence of the Lambs, mentioned as evidence of the writer's quality." — Josh

The Wizard of Oz

1939 1h 42m

★ 7.6

"It sounds like the wizard of Oz behind the curtain. Like all the machine he's messing with is blown out. — Compared the complex controls of a blimp to the Wizard of Oz's machinery behind the curtain." — Chuck

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