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| Aircraft of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithonian, 1985 |
In the mid 1920s Goodyear constructed a number of small scale airships designed to demonstrate and train pilots in lighter-than-air craft, the Pilgrim was one of these. It was made of a magnesium coated steel tube frame with a rubberized fabric balloon. The envelope had a capacity of 55,000 cubic feet of gas and was the first airship designed to utilize helium as the lifting gas.
The engine was a single Lawrence air-cooled three cylinder engine of 40 hp, with a 40 gallon fuel tank, giving it had a range of 525 miles. Launched in 1925, it made 4765 flights before being retired in 1931.
Below, landing atop the M. O'Neil department store in Akron, Ohio. That must be the railway terminal on the left in the background.
I had one of those as a younger fellow. Painted plain flesh color, with the interior done up in zebra hide. I used it as my personal runabout and sometimes for aeronautical poker games -- the blimpette seated five in obscene comfort.
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I don't believe you that it had zebra hide interior. not that yer lying I just don't believe you remember correctly.
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