How much would it cost to build a zeppelin, excalty like the Hindenburg?

Question

How much would it cost to build a zeppelin, excalty like the Hindenburg?

Answer 1

67p

Answer 2

Can't give you an exact amount, but it would surely be in the tens of millions of dollars. A) it's huge and materials are expensive B) the facilities and utility cost required to build it would be extensive and expensive, C) the manpower and man-hours required would be very large, even with modern manufacturing techniques, and D) you would have to use Helium, which is not flammable and it has slightly different properties effecting the bouyancy of the envelope, so some re-engineering would probably be required E) the amount of Helium required to fill it would also be very expensive .

Answer 3

Twice half of the amount

Answer 4

HSE (UK Health & Safety executive)  Wouldnt let you im sure, it was filled with Hydrogen gas, which as you may or may not know is extremely flamable.

They were banned, just after the Hindenburg disaster.

Answer 5

If you could find a hanger to build one in(maybe Cardington where there is already a company who builds airships) you would need to find a workforce who has a background in building aircraft airframes.

I would imagine with modern equipment...lighter aluminium inner frame..plastics instead of cloth for outer coverings and interior trim..Helium for lifting gas instead of Hydrogen and more powerful diesel engines,a very safe and comfortable replica could be built.

The costs would be as much if not more than the cost of a large airliner like the Airbus A380..but given the amount of passengers you could carry I don't think it would be very cost effective.

Answer 6

With modern materials and methods, and with helium, a "safe and comfortable replica" (well put!) could be built for several hundred million dollars.  The cost would be more than tripled by the need for a hangar and ground handling facilities.

Answer 7

You couldn't do it unless, like the others above have pointed out, you made compromises using modern materials.

If you are truly hung up on the word "exactly" then consider what happened to the Hindenburg and ask yourself why would you want to.  The Hindeburg caught fire for two reasons.

(1)The first was the aluminum based doping compound on the fabric hull was intensely flamable.  The compound was used to reflect sunlight to prevent thermal expansion and also to preserve the airship's hull and give it a nice silver look.

(2) The second was obviously the use of hydrogen gas.  Easily the best gas to use for boyancy, terrible for safety.  Unfortunately helium (the next lightest gas) is nearly four times heavier so I doubt an exact Hidenberg replica would even work effectively if helium was substituted.