In April 1916, the General Board endorsed the development of zeppelins and other mobile lighter-than-air craft. The airship was severely damaged during one of the test flights and it was never repaired.Įven before DN-1 was built, studies were ongoing at the Bureau of Construction and Repair for a future class of dirigibles. Once test flights began, multiple problems were revealed. DN-1 arrived in Pensacola, Florida, in December 1916, but the airship was not ready for flight until April 1917. During construction of DN-1, the Navy authorized construction of a hangar to house the new airship, which was completed in early 1916. The designation stems from D for dirigible, N for non-rigid and “1” as the Navy’s first airship. The Navy launched its lighter-than-air program when it awarded its first contract for an airship, DN-1, to the Connecticut Aircraft Company in June 1915.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |