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Pilot killed as Goodyear Blimp crashes in Germany

K

kilo delta

Charter Member 2015
A Goodyear blimp burst into flames and plunged to earth in a weekend crash in Germany.The pilot was killed but three passengers managed to jump to safety when the airship caught fire as it was coming in to land at the Reichelsheim aerodrome near Friedberg.

When the airship was just six metres from the floor, the pilot told his passengers, all journalists, to jump to the ground while he tried to land safely.Once the three journalists leapt clear of the blimp it then climbed back up to 120 feet, but flames were seen engulfing the ship soon after. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise from the engine and smelling petrol fumes.

One eyewitness said: 'We could also hear the cries of the doomed pilot as the fire surrounded him. It was terrible.'


The journalists who escaped were a photographer from Germany's Bild newspaper and two from RTL television.The crash happened at 8.30pm on Sunday night after the airship had made a round trip for the pressmen to take photos of the state of Hessen.Germany led the world in airship technology in the first half of the last century. Its most famous airship was the Zeppelin - named after the man who invented it.
The Zeppelin was a rigid airship, meaning it has an internal structural framework, whereas blimps are non-rigid and there shape is maintained solely by internal air pressure.

One of the best-known Zeppelins was the Hindenburg which crossed the Atlantic to New Jersey on May 6 1937, but caught fire as it was trying to land, causing the deaths of 35 people.

The crash put an end to the age of airship travel but the craft have made a comeback in Germany in recent years as tourist magnets.
Click to expand...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...plunges-ground-Germany.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
 
man thats terrible,my condolances to the family....

the comment "his screams could be heard" is upsetting to me...im not one to be upset by much...and im one who had to help the coronor ( i was deputised) and helped pick up remains after a guy i knew..i dated his daughter..blew him self up by laying on a hand grenade....i did other nasty things like that in my time but as a firefighter,the fear of burning alive bothered me..i was burned over twice ( scared me so bad the first time i pee'd my pants) and fell through a couple roofs..but if youve ever heard someone scream in agony while burning alive..youll never forget it.....we once arrived to a VW bug that was fully involved and two teenage girls were heard screaming.....we couldnt help them...was horrible....
 
Sorry to hear about this. May his soul rest in peace. He saved his passengers.

I take it this was a 'Goodyear' Blimp as stated? There are two kinds. The Zeppelin versions are larger, more passengers. The Goodyear ships are made here, but I heard they were being retired and new ones being constructed. Where, I dont know, but I dont think the new GY fleet is operational yet.

The German Zeppelins are pretty nice. They have bent on up in Africa during a world tour. Landing in gusty winds is horrible with these things. If only there was a better way.

So, somehow, fuel must have leaked out from the fuel tank and ignited it... What a shame...



Bill
 
Goodyear was leasing two blimps from Lightship Europe Limited.
Certainly sounds like the pilot (Australian, 26 years in lighter than air experience) saved the passengers at the loss of himself.
Pics are out there but not going to post.
Been on a tethered Goodyear blimp. Grew up with them overhead all the time.
 
So sorry to hear about the crash. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the pilot. The man was a true hero. May he rest in peace.

This Blimp, G-TLEL, flew low over Amsterdam on 9th May 2011, only one mile or so from my flat, over the town centre and off to Schiphol. It was such a magnificent view. So sad that she had such a dramatic end.

Cheers,
Maarten
 
Horrifying photo. Looks like a WWI Zeppelin shoot-down. My sympathies to the pilot's family.
 
What a damn horrible way to go. Fire in flight always scared the hell out of me, I would rather jump out with no parachute than suffer that fate. At least in a fixed wing (chance to put it out in a dive too) or chopper the impact will probably kill you instantly first, but in a helium blimp, probably inherently the saftest thing flying, just keeps floating away leaving the pilot to suffer. I took one ride in a hot air balloon, that was enough for me...and it was tethered. It is just a parachute attached to a wicker basket and an 'afterburner' on it...great....lets all wear polyester while we are at it.

I hope wherever he is now that he is forever safe from harm and my thoughts go out to his family. :salute:
 
I saw G-TLEL just four weeks ago, between May 16th and May 21st, when she was doing some publicity flights around and above Antwerp - almost daily, in fact. Most of the time she was just circling around in the distance, close enough to see her, but just too far to take a good picture of her.

Then, on the 20th, I was on my way into town, and had just missed my tram. As I stood waiting for the next one to arrive, I suddenly heard an unfamiliar engine noise and there she was, almost right above me. I had just enough time to grab my camera out of my backpack, and take a few snaps of her, unfortunately not such good ones, as the skies were overcast. Here they are:







I guess that last image will be stuck in my mind forever. God rest his soul.
 
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