The Hindenburg in Flames: How a Photograph Marked the End of the Airship

The Hindenburg in Flames: How a Photograph Marked the End of the Airship — page 3
135 feet 41 m Its four engines could propel the airship at a top speed of 84 miles 135 km per hour more than twice as fast as any surface ship of the era On the inside the Hindenburg and the dirigibles before it were modeled after the great steamships of the day Since the invention of steam engines the ocean liners had become the fastest way to cross the Atlantic Ocean And for people who could afford to travel first class the ships offered fine dining and beautiful public rooms Like an ocean liner the Hindenburg had a dining room where passengers ate from china with silver knives forks and spoons The food came up from the galley on the deck below and included a variety of meat poultry and fish Outside the dining room passengers could gather in several public rooms or watch the clouds pass by in one of two promenades which were short hallways lined with windows Art decorated the rooms and the wallpaper in the dining room was made of silk As on ships the crew used naval terms The right side of the airship was starboard the left side was port The ship had a helmsman and it was commanded by a captain rather than flown by a pilot Passengers gazed out the promenade windows from the Hindenburg’s lounge