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Narrator: the hindenburg...
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The largest aircraft ever built,
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An incredible feat
Of nazi engineering.
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That was certainly
The most advanced airship
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That had ever been built.
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But in 1937, disaster strikes.
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Man:
The hindenburg is in flames.
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Narrator: a raging fire tears
Through the giant airship.
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Morrison:
Oh, the humanity!
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This is the worst thing
I've ever witnessed.
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Narrator:
The cause of the crash
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Is an 80-year-old mystery.
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In a matter of seconds,
245 meters of airship
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Was reduced
To just smoking wreckage.
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Narrator:
35 people lose their lives.
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What really happened
That fateful night?
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♪♪
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Now investigators use
Pioneering technology...
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I don't think the flight crew
Did the correct things.
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Narrator: ...And innovative
Forensic techniques
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To unearth new evidence.
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I can see the explosion
Immediately.
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We've got a whoomph,
Didn't we?
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You hear
That chamber go.
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Narrator:
Using cutting edge 3-d graphics,
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We will resurrect the hindenburg
From the ashes.
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♪♪
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We'll reveal its inner workings
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And the engineering
That makes it fly.
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We'll reconstruct
The night of the inferno
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To reveal the mysteries of this
Incredible nazi flying machine.
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--captions by vitac--
Www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
Discovery communications
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♪♪
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May 6, 1937.
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Adorned with nazi swastikas,
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Germany's hindenburg airship
Flies over new york
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After completing a three-day
Crossing of the atlantic.
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It makes the journey
Twice as fast
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As the quickest ocean liner.
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♪♪
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The hindenburg is the pride
Of the nazi air fleet.
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At over 800 feet long,
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It's the largest aircraft
Ever to fly.
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♪♪
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Under its aluminum-coated skin,
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There's space for 61 crew
And 70 passengers.
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♪♪
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It's a flying five-star hotel
With bedrooms, dining hall.
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Piano bar, and smoking room.
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♪♪
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Gigantic cotton gasbags
Filled with hydrogen
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Make this monster
Lighter than air.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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The hindenburg approaches
Its final destination --
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Lakehurst naval base,
New jersey.
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But as it prepares to land...
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Morrison:
It burst into flames!
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And it's crashing!
It's crashing terrible!
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Oh, my!
Get out of the way please.
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It's burning,
Bursting into flames,
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And it's falling
On the mooring masts.
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This is one of the worst
Catastrophes in the world.
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Oh, the humanity!
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I don't believe it.
Oh!
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I-I can't talk,
Ladies and gentlemen.
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[ woman screaming ]
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You see this giant,
Beautiful airship float in,
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Know that it's filled
With people,
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And then all of a sudden
It just bursts into flame.
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Narrator:
What causes one of the most
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Notorious air
Disasters in history?
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♪♪
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The enormous hangar one
At lakehurst is where
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The hindenburg is stored
When it flies to the u.S.
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♪♪
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In 1937,
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Hangar one is the largest
Single room in the world.
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It's 350 feet wide
And nearly 1,000 feet in length,
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As long as the chrysler
Building is tall.
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It's here where airship
Historian dan grossman
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Begins his search for the truth.
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Grossman:
This entire building
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Would have been filled
With airship.
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And it kind of gives you a sense
Of just how big the ship is.
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This building had hindenburg
From one end to the other end.
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Narrator:
The massive hindenburg
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Erupts into flames
Just overhead.
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♪♪
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Dan believes that the hangar
Contains clues
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To help solve this mystery.
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We are standing where
The control car crashed.
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This entire area would have
Been covered with nothing
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But burning,
Smoldering wreckage of airship.
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Narrator: to this day,
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Hangar one stores
Charred traces of the airship.
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Dan discovers evidence
Of the fire's intensity
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On these recovered
Pieces of silverware.
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Grossman: well, we can take
A look at some of the items
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That survived the fire.
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You can see where metal
Has melted
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And dripped onto these pieces.
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It was a horrific thing
For people to go through.
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There was a lot of tragedy
Associated with this.
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Narrator:
In just 32 seconds,
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The fire
Consumes the entire hindenburg,
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Killing 35 of the 97 crew
And passengers.
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But what can start a fire
Ferocious enough to melt metal?
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♪♪
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Within hours of the disaster,
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There are rumors that opponents
Of hitler sabotaged the ship.
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♪♪
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The hindenburg is as large
As the u.S. Capitol building --
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Plenty of room for foul play.
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[ ticking ]
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♪♪
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Is there a bomb
Onboard the airship?
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Fire and explosions expert
Dr. Claire benson
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Puts the sabotage theory
To the test.
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Eyewitness accounts
At the time suggest
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There was a quite
A small fire towards the top
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And the back of the hindenburg.
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Narrator:
Claire plans to detonate a bomb
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Inside a model
Of the airship
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And analyze
How quickly the fire spreads.
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She works with pyrotechnics
Expert matthew tosh.
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We are modeling now
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The individual reservoirs
Of hydrogen gas.
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We've got a cylinder here,
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And claire is going to feed me
Some hydrogen gas.
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This replicates the hindenburg's
Massive hydrogen-filled gasbags.
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♪♪
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Claire will analyze
The explosion
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And compare it
To footage of the fire
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That destroys the hindenburg.
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Tosh: the explosive we're using
On our model
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Is black powder, gunpowder.
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So this is the explosive
Going in.
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This is where
Tensions start to rise sometimes
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Because we're now going
Into the firing system.
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Narrator:
Claire uses a slow-motion camera
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To analyze the fire
That the bomb sets off.
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Tosh: right.
Let's arm the system.
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We're armed.
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Okay. You ready?
Here we go.
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♪♪
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In 3, 2, 1.
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[ explosion ]
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We got a whoomph, didn't we?
You hear that chamber go?
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Benson: yeah.
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♪♪
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Whoo!
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All right.
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Narrator: the camera footage
Is downloaded,
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And claire replays the explosion
In super slow-motion.
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♪♪
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Benson: I can see the explosion
Immediately,
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And it seems to engulf
The back third,
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I would say, of the model
Really quite rapidly.
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Narrator: the hindenburg fire
Last just 32 seconds.
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But claire's experiment
Suggests an explosive
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Would have engulfed the airship
In half that time.
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Benson: an explosion happened
Really rapidly
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And then very quickly
That fire propagates
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Through the whole model
And burns it up.
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Narrator: despite the apparent
Speed of the hindenburg fire,
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Claire's experiment reveals
In reality
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The airship burns too slowly
For the cause to be a bomb.
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It's a breakthrough
In the investigation.
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She's certain she can finally
Rule out the sabotage theory.
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I think we can conclude
From the experiment
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That it's unlikely
That the hindenburg disaster
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Was started
By an explosive device.
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Narrator: a bomb did not bring
Down the giant nazi airship.
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So what else could it have been?
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♪♪
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Federal authorities discover
That before the disaster,
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The hindenburg's crew
Gets sent threatening letters.
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♪♪
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As they examine the airfield,
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Investigators find
Suspicious tracks
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That lead away
From the crash site.
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♪♪
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There are rumors of a gun
In the wreckage...
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Fueling speculation of a shot
From inside the airship.
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♪♪
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But even though investigators
Name two suspects,
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They eventually rule
Out sabotage.
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♪♪
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The explanation of
This disaster remains a mystery.
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Today, in the search
For answers,
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Investigators turn to the
Design of the hindenburg itself.
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What clues does it hold
To the cause of the catastrophe?
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♪♪
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Narrator: the nazi-built
Hindenburg airship
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Bursts into flames as it arrives
At lakehurst, new jersey.
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Sabotage is ruled out.
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00:10:38,344 --> 00:10:42,344
But what else could cause
This disaster?
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00:10:42,379 --> 00:10:45,206
Now investigators look to the
Hindenburg's design
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For answers.
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The hindenburg's skeleton
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Is a complex web
Of aluminum struts and braces.
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It carries
The ship's infrastructure,
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As well as the engines,
Passengers, crew and cargo.
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00:11:06,241 --> 00:11:08,241
♪♪
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00:11:08,275 --> 00:11:11,896
But its main job is to create
A large empty space
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00:11:11,931 --> 00:11:15,551
For the mission-critical
Components.
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16 gigantic cotton bags...
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00:11:19,241 --> 00:11:22,655
That hold 7 million
Cubic feet of hydrogen,
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00:11:22,689 --> 00:11:26,758
The lightest element
In the universe.
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The gas allows
The hindenburg to fly,
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00:11:30,413 --> 00:11:32,896
But does it also cause
Its downfall?
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Hangar one at lakehurst is
The hindenburg's american home.
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The giant airship fills
The vast space.
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Today, it houses wreckage
Of the disaster.
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♪♪
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00:11:50,034 --> 00:11:51,965
Airship historian
Dan grossman
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Investigates one
Of the surviving pieces.
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Grossman: this is an actual
Girder from the hindenburg
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That was recovered
After the wreckage,
222
00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,137
And you can see in the bends
223
00:12:02,172 --> 00:12:05,241
And the way this piece
Was designed and fabricated,
224
00:12:05,275 --> 00:12:08,172
That made it simultaneously
Very strong,
225
00:12:08,206 --> 00:12:12,000
But also very light because
I can take this entire girder
226
00:12:12,034 --> 00:12:13,896
And I can hold it
With one finger.
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00:12:17,689 --> 00:12:22,034
Narrator:
The hindenburg's designers make
The frame as light as possible.
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00:12:22,068 --> 00:12:25,965
A light frame allows
The fuselage to be supersized,
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00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,103
Key to carrying as
Much hydrogen as possible,
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00:12:29,137 --> 00:12:32,172
Keeping the hindenburg
Airborne.
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00:12:32,206 --> 00:12:34,068
But there's a problem.
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00:12:34,103 --> 00:12:37,068
Hydrogen can be very explosive.
233
00:12:37,103 --> 00:12:40,379
Investigators want to know
If that causes the fatal fire
234
00:12:40,413 --> 00:12:42,413
Onboard the hindenburg.
235
00:12:43,896 --> 00:12:47,827
Today fire and explosions expert
Dr. Claire benson
236
00:12:47,862 --> 00:12:52,172
Is taking a new look at how
Hydrogen behaves when ignited.
237
00:12:52,206 --> 00:12:54,586
Benson: this is a bag filled
With pure hydrogen.
238
00:12:54,620 --> 00:12:56,931
And inside
Is an electrical igniter,
239
00:12:56,965 --> 00:12:58,448
And we're going to see
What happens
240
00:12:58,482 --> 00:13:00,689
When we try
To ignite pure hydrogen.
241
00:13:04,862 --> 00:13:06,517
Arming.
242
00:13:06,551 --> 00:13:09,344
And 3, 2, 1.
243
00:13:09,379 --> 00:13:10,965
[ snap ]
244
00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,172
Narrator:
It won't set on fire.
245
00:13:13,206 --> 00:13:16,275
A spark cannot
Ignite the hydrogen.
246
00:13:16,310 --> 00:13:17,793
The igniter went off,
247
00:13:17,827 --> 00:13:19,862
But there was
No combustion reaction inside.
248
00:13:19,896 --> 00:13:23,344
But the hydrogen, because
It's just pure hydrogen.
249
00:13:23,379 --> 00:13:25,344
Narrator:
But in certain circumstances,
250
00:13:25,379 --> 00:13:28,000
Hydrogen will ignite.
251
00:13:28,034 --> 00:13:30,172
Claire fills a second bag
With hydrogen
252
00:13:30,206 --> 00:13:33,241
Mixed with another gas
That's all around us --
253
00:13:33,275 --> 00:13:34,931
Oxygen.
254
00:13:35,965 --> 00:13:39,620
Okay, arming.
3, 2, 1.
255
00:13:39,655 --> 00:13:41,655
[ pop ]
256
00:13:41,689 --> 00:13:46,448
Narrator:
Together, hydrogen and oxygen
Create an explosive cocktail.
257
00:13:46,482 --> 00:13:49,793
But if they are kept separate,
Then hydrogen is perfectly safe.
258
00:13:49,827 --> 00:13:51,241
Benson:
We have to manage it.
259
00:13:51,275 --> 00:13:53,413
We have to make sure
That we can contain it
260
00:13:53,448 --> 00:13:55,275
And that we can keep it away
From oxygen
261
00:13:55,310 --> 00:13:58,448
That it could react with
And from ignition sources.
262
00:13:58,482 --> 00:14:00,068
[ pop ]
263
00:14:00,103 --> 00:14:03,034
♪♪
264
00:14:03,068 --> 00:14:04,896
Narrator:
In the first world war,
265
00:14:04,931 --> 00:14:09,172
German airship designers use
Membranes from cows' intestines
266
00:14:09,206 --> 00:14:12,206
To make bags
That safely contain hydrogen.
267
00:14:12,241 --> 00:14:14,689
♪♪
268
00:14:14,724 --> 00:14:18,724
In the 1930s,
They changed to helium --
269
00:14:18,758 --> 00:14:20,448
A gas with less lifting power,
270
00:14:20,482 --> 00:14:22,310
But also less risk.
271
00:14:22,344 --> 00:14:26,689
♪♪
272
00:14:26,724 --> 00:14:32,000
But the only place in the world
That produces helium is america.
273
00:14:32,034 --> 00:14:36,344
And the u.S.
Won't sell helium to the nazis.
274
00:14:36,379 --> 00:14:39,241
The hindenburg
Must use hydrogen,
275
00:14:39,275 --> 00:14:42,551
But can now afford
To have nine extra cabins
276
00:14:42,586 --> 00:14:45,068
As hydrogen
Has more lifting power.
277
00:14:45,103 --> 00:14:47,793
♪♪
278
00:14:47,827 --> 00:14:50,724
The hindenburg's designers
Also create a new way
279
00:14:50,758 --> 00:14:53,827
To safely contain the gas.
280
00:14:53,862 --> 00:14:59,000
They make airtight cotton
Gasbags to hold the hydrogen.
281
00:14:59,034 --> 00:15:02,068
They are so confident
Their plan is foolproof,
282
00:15:02,103 --> 00:15:05,896
They even allow passengers
To smoke onboard the airship.
283
00:15:08,275 --> 00:15:12,275
So why does the hindenburg
Catch fire?
284
00:15:12,310 --> 00:15:16,068
Claire believes there
Can only be one answer.
285
00:15:16,103 --> 00:15:18,448
Benson: on the hindenburg,
If there was a leak
286
00:15:18,482 --> 00:15:22,068
Or some kind of mixing
Of the hydrogen with the air,
287
00:15:22,103 --> 00:15:25,034
It's the mixing that
Would enable the ignition
288
00:15:25,068 --> 00:15:27,310
Of that reaction.
289
00:15:27,344 --> 00:15:29,862
Narrator: could a deadly leak
Of hydrogen play a part
290
00:15:29,896 --> 00:15:32,758
In bringing down the hindenburg?
291
00:15:32,793 --> 00:15:35,448
What sparks
The catastrophic fire?
292
00:15:44,586 --> 00:15:46,620
♪♪
293
00:15:46,655 --> 00:15:49,137
Narrator: the massive nazi
Airship hindenburg
294
00:15:49,172 --> 00:15:51,724
Erupts in a raging fire.
295
00:15:51,758 --> 00:15:55,586
Seven million cubic feet
Of hydrogen are set aflame.
296
00:15:55,620 --> 00:15:59,448
Within moments,
Thirty five people are dead,
297
00:15:59,482 --> 00:16:03,241
But hydrogen will only burn
When mixed with oxygen.
298
00:16:03,275 --> 00:16:05,068
It should be completely safe
299
00:16:05,103 --> 00:16:08,413
Within the airship's
Giant airtight gasbags.
300
00:16:08,448 --> 00:16:10,551
Now investigators
Want to know
301
00:16:10,586 --> 00:16:12,896
How does this hydrogen escape?
302
00:16:15,275 --> 00:16:16,862
Seconds before the disaster,
303
00:16:16,896 --> 00:16:19,448
A witness sees
The ship's skin fluttering...
304
00:16:21,827 --> 00:16:24,034
...Possible evidence
Of a gas leak.
305
00:16:24,068 --> 00:16:27,241
♪♪
306
00:16:27,275 --> 00:16:32,551
Right beneath this spot are
Gasbags number four and five,
307
00:16:32,586 --> 00:16:37,862
Each filled with half a million
Cubic feet of hydrogen.
308
00:16:37,896 --> 00:16:40,310
Could something
Inside the airship snap
309
00:16:40,344 --> 00:16:42,172
And tear the gasbags?
310
00:16:45,793 --> 00:16:48,310
Now hydrogen can escape...
311
00:16:48,344 --> 00:16:50,310
And mixed with oxygen,
312
00:16:50,344 --> 00:16:53,827
Turning hindenburg
Into a gigantic flying bomb.
313
00:16:57,448 --> 00:17:00,482
But how could a section of the
Hindenburg's structure break?
314
00:17:02,379 --> 00:17:06,310
Dr. Praskovia milova
Is an aeronautical engineer
315
00:17:06,344 --> 00:17:10,241
From the université libre
In brussels.
316
00:17:10,275 --> 00:17:14,310
She examines the hindenburg's
Design for clues.
317
00:17:14,344 --> 00:17:17,275
Milova: we can see that the main
Structure of the hindenburg
318
00:17:17,310 --> 00:17:23,137
Was supported everywhere
By still bracing wires,
319
00:17:23,172 --> 00:17:26,103
Narrator: thousands of feet
Of steel wire
320
00:17:26,137 --> 00:17:29,586
Braces hindenburg's innovative
Lightweight frame.
321
00:17:29,620 --> 00:17:35,586
Steel wires surround all 16
Gasbags, securing them in place.
322
00:17:35,620 --> 00:17:39,310
From this view, you can
Imagine that the gasbag
323
00:17:39,344 --> 00:17:42,206
Would be filling
This whole space.
324
00:17:42,241 --> 00:17:46,517
And even pressing
Against the wires.
325
00:17:46,551 --> 00:17:50,620
Narrator:
But steel is prone to rust,
326
00:17:50,655 --> 00:17:54,310
Milova: steel is a corrosive
Material just by nature,
327
00:17:54,344 --> 00:17:58,034
And rust then has
A significant impact
328
00:17:58,068 --> 00:18:00,103
On the strength of the material.
329
00:18:05,241 --> 00:18:06,965
Narrator:
Before the disaster,
330
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,379
The hindenburg makes 17
Round trips across the atlantic,
331
00:18:11,413 --> 00:18:14,724
With each crossing taking
An average of 55 hours.
332
00:18:14,758 --> 00:18:17,310
♪♪
333
00:18:17,344 --> 00:18:21,620
It flies at a cruising altitude
Of only 650 feet,
334
00:18:21,655 --> 00:18:24,689
Exposing it to moisture
And salt from the ocean.
335
00:18:24,724 --> 00:18:27,344
♪♪
336
00:18:27,379 --> 00:18:32,931
To shield the skeleton under the
Hindenburg skin from corrosion,
337
00:18:32,965 --> 00:18:35,137
It is covered
With protective paint.
338
00:18:35,172 --> 00:18:38,172
♪♪
339
00:18:38,206 --> 00:18:41,586
But the steel bracing wires
Are unprotected,
340
00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:45,379
And when exposed to salt
And moisture, they can rust.
341
00:18:45,413 --> 00:18:49,103
♪♪
342
00:18:49,137 --> 00:18:51,137
Praskovia thinks there's
Another threat
343
00:18:51,172 --> 00:18:52,793
To the steel wires.
344
00:18:54,931 --> 00:18:57,965
The airship's aluminum
Frame bends and stretches
345
00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,137
To cope with the challenging
Weather conditions
346
00:19:00,172 --> 00:19:01,448
Crossing the atlantic.
347
00:19:01,482 --> 00:19:03,620
Milova: corrosion --
It's the material,
348
00:19:03,655 --> 00:19:07,068
So it creates little cracks
On the surface.
349
00:19:07,103 --> 00:19:11,724
And then because the whole
Structure is flexible,
350
00:19:11,758 --> 00:19:15,241
The steel wire
Would be repetitively
351
00:19:15,275 --> 00:19:17,241
Tensioned and relaxed,
352
00:19:17,275 --> 00:19:20,172
Tensioned and relaxed,
And eventually it breaks.
353
00:19:20,206 --> 00:19:22,275
♪♪
354
00:19:22,310 --> 00:19:25,103
Narrator: each cotton gasbag
Is reinforced and sealed
355
00:19:25,137 --> 00:19:28,344
By a thin layer of rubber.
356
00:19:28,379 --> 00:19:31,965
Could a snapping steel
Wire puncture one of the bags?
357
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,827
♪♪
358
00:19:47,068 --> 00:19:50,965
The cause of the leaking
Hydrogen is a mystery today.
359
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,241
Praskovia is finally putting
360
00:19:53,275 --> 00:19:56,586
The suspect gasbag material
To the test.
361
00:19:56,620 --> 00:19:58,862
She prepares samples
Of the rubberized cotton
362
00:19:58,896 --> 00:20:01,448
With lab technician
Inge desmet.
363
00:20:05,034 --> 00:20:09,827
Milova:
We chose the pointed needle
Because if the wire broke,
364
00:20:09,862 --> 00:20:11,931
It would have had
The sharp edges,
365
00:20:11,965 --> 00:20:14,000
And the pointed needle would be
366
00:20:14,034 --> 00:20:16,827
The best to assimilate
That broken wire.
367
00:20:16,862 --> 00:20:20,758
♪♪
368
00:20:20,793 --> 00:20:23,103
Narrator:
The machine ramps up the force.
369
00:20:23,137 --> 00:20:26,551
♪♪
370
00:20:26,586 --> 00:20:29,241
Milova:
This sample was punctured.
371
00:20:29,275 --> 00:20:31,896
You can see the hole.
372
00:20:31,931 --> 00:20:35,827
The puncture resistance
Is around 40 newtons.
373
00:20:37,034 --> 00:20:38,862
Narrator:
Praskovia's test reveals
374
00:20:38,896 --> 00:20:42,379
How little it takes to pierce
The material.
375
00:20:42,413 --> 00:20:44,586
Milova: the gasbag material
Could have been
376
00:20:44,620 --> 00:20:49,275
Pretty much easily broken
By a broken wire.
377
00:20:49,310 --> 00:20:50,965
Narrator: all the vital
Forensic evidence
378
00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,931
Is destroyed
In the intense fire.
379
00:20:53,965 --> 00:20:55,827
But with the results
Of her test,
380
00:20:55,862 --> 00:20:57,827
Praskovia is now certain
381
00:20:57,862 --> 00:21:01,620
A tiny piece of metal
Is the most likely culprit.
382
00:21:01,655 --> 00:21:03,620
The cause of
The hindenburg disaster
383
00:21:03,655 --> 00:21:05,586
Is finally getting clearer.
384
00:21:05,620 --> 00:21:10,137
♪♪
385
00:21:10,172 --> 00:21:13,724
But the leak
Still needs a spark.
386
00:21:13,758 --> 00:21:16,034
What starts the mighty fire?
387
00:21:25,655 --> 00:21:28,551
Narrator: may 1937.
388
00:21:28,586 --> 00:21:30,586
The wreckage
Of the airship hindenburg
389
00:21:30,620 --> 00:21:34,379
Lies burning
On a new jersey airfield.
390
00:21:34,413 --> 00:21:37,551
Now investigators believe
A broken steel wire
391
00:21:37,586 --> 00:21:40,620
Has ripped open a gasbag,
392
00:21:40,655 --> 00:21:45,000
And half a million cubic feet
Of hydrogen leaks out.
393
00:21:45,034 --> 00:21:47,241
But the highly flammable
Mix of hydrogen
394
00:21:47,275 --> 00:21:50,655
And oxygen needs to be ignited.
395
00:21:50,689 --> 00:21:53,827
So what sparks
The deadly fire?
396
00:21:53,862 --> 00:21:55,379
[ thunder rumbles ]
397
00:21:55,413 --> 00:22:00,241
The hindenburg lands at
Lakehurst during a thunderstorm.
398
00:22:00,275 --> 00:22:02,586
Eyewitnesses report
Dim blue lights
399
00:22:02,620 --> 00:22:06,862
Rippling across its aluminum
Coated skin.
400
00:22:06,896 --> 00:22:10,724
Are these the sparks
That ignite the hydrogen
401
00:22:10,758 --> 00:22:12,827
And bring down the hindenburg?
402
00:22:17,448 --> 00:22:19,862
Dr. Chris gould is
An electrical engineer
403
00:22:19,896 --> 00:22:22,448
From staffordshire university
In england.
404
00:22:22,482 --> 00:22:25,137
♪♪
405
00:22:25,172 --> 00:22:27,103
He investigates
If a thunderstorm
406
00:22:27,137 --> 00:22:30,655
Can produce a spark powerful
Enough to start a fire.
407
00:22:30,689 --> 00:22:32,551
Gould:
What we're trying to test here
408
00:22:32,586 --> 00:22:35,034
Is how can a spot be created
409
00:22:35,068 --> 00:22:38,655
Within the hindenburg structure?
410
00:22:38,689 --> 00:22:40,724
Narrator:
Thunderstorms produce millions
411
00:22:40,758 --> 00:22:43,793
Of volts of electricity.
412
00:22:43,827 --> 00:22:45,758
The hindenburg
Is electrically charged
413
00:22:45,793 --> 00:22:50,103
Flying through
The stormy conditions.
414
00:22:50,137 --> 00:22:52,172
But dropping its
Mooring ropes for landing
415
00:22:52,206 --> 00:22:54,827
Should safely discharge
The airship.
416
00:22:54,862 --> 00:22:57,620
♪♪
417
00:22:57,655 --> 00:22:59,172
The mooring ropes
Should channel
418
00:22:59,206 --> 00:23:02,379
Any electrical charge to earth,
419
00:23:02,413 --> 00:23:05,862
Eliminating the risk
Of potentially lethal sparks.
420
00:23:08,793 --> 00:23:13,103
How is a spark created
On the hindenburg?
421
00:23:13,137 --> 00:23:16,689
Chris and technical assistant
Suhil want to find out.
422
00:23:18,172 --> 00:23:22,793
They use a replica of the
Hindenburg skin to investigate.
423
00:23:22,827 --> 00:23:25,517
This model represents
The main components
424
00:23:25,551 --> 00:23:29,620
Of the hindenburg --
The airframe and the outer skin,
425
00:23:29,655 --> 00:23:35,482
Which has a woven fabric
Painted with aluminium powder.
426
00:23:35,517 --> 00:23:38,689
And we have this aluminium bar,
427
00:23:38,724 --> 00:23:41,793
Which represents
The metal structure
428
00:23:41,827 --> 00:23:45,034
Of the airship airframe.
429
00:23:45,068 --> 00:23:47,241
Narrator: the mooring ropes
Are only attached
430
00:23:47,275 --> 00:23:51,862
To the airship's aluminum
Alloy frame.
431
00:23:51,896 --> 00:23:56,724
The skin is separated from it
By wooden dowels.
432
00:23:56,758 --> 00:23:59,206
Chris suspects this separation
Means the skin
433
00:23:59,241 --> 00:24:01,103
Keeps its electrical charge
434
00:24:01,137 --> 00:24:04,965
When the airship drops
Its mooring ropes.
435
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,689
The electrical current
Then flows across the gap
436
00:24:07,724 --> 00:24:10,448
In the form of a spark.
437
00:24:10,482 --> 00:24:12,965
If we can create the spark
In that gap,
438
00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:17,965
Then potentially
That can lead to ignition.
439
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,827
Narrator:
Flying through the storm,
440
00:24:19,862 --> 00:24:23,793
The hindenburg's outer skin
Gets covered in water.
441
00:24:23,827 --> 00:24:26,586
Chris and suhil recreate
The same conditions
442
00:24:26,620 --> 00:24:28,241
On their model.
443
00:24:28,275 --> 00:24:31,068
Gould: the water that we poured
Onto the fabric of the airship
444
00:24:31,103 --> 00:24:33,620
Is replicating
The pools of water
445
00:24:33,655 --> 00:24:35,551
That have formed as the airship
446
00:24:35,586 --> 00:24:40,827
Has been traveling through
The poor weather conditions.
447
00:24:40,862 --> 00:24:43,379
Narrator: suhil connects
The high-voltage generator
448
00:24:43,413 --> 00:24:45,620
To the wet skin...
449
00:24:45,655 --> 00:24:47,413
And grounds the inner frame
450
00:24:47,448 --> 00:24:51,551
Exactly like the hindenburg
Moments before the disaster.
451
00:24:51,586 --> 00:24:54,172
Gould:
I think we're ready to go.
452
00:24:54,206 --> 00:24:58,275
Narrator: chris's equipment
Can produce up to 50,000 volts.
453
00:24:58,310 --> 00:25:02,068
The experiment must be done
Inside a cage for safety.
454
00:25:02,103 --> 00:25:04,206
♪♪
455
00:25:04,241 --> 00:25:08,034
1,000.
One and a half.
456
00:25:08,068 --> 00:25:09,827
2,000 volts.
457
00:25:09,862 --> 00:25:11,689
We can see a spark.
We've got a spark.
458
00:25:11,724 --> 00:25:14,068
♪♪
459
00:25:14,103 --> 00:25:16,620
Chris creates a spark
In the exact conditions
460
00:25:16,655 --> 00:25:19,724
The hindenburg faces.
461
00:25:19,758 --> 00:25:22,724
His findings are conclusive.
462
00:25:22,758 --> 00:25:24,344
Chris believes it's a discovery
463
00:25:24,379 --> 00:25:27,758
To finally solve
An 82-year-old mystery.
464
00:25:29,793 --> 00:25:34,344
The test reveals a fatal
Design flaw in the hindenburg.
465
00:25:34,379 --> 00:25:37,482
Wooden dowels insulated skin
From the metal frame
466
00:25:37,517 --> 00:25:39,862
And the mooring rope.
467
00:25:39,896 --> 00:25:41,448
The frame loses its charge
468
00:25:41,482 --> 00:25:44,482
When the mooring rope
Drops down,
469
00:25:44,517 --> 00:25:48,827
But the skin remains charged
And can still trigger sparks.
470
00:25:48,862 --> 00:25:50,931
♪♪
471
00:25:50,965 --> 00:25:56,103
Chris is convinced this is
The cause of the deadly fire.
472
00:25:56,137 --> 00:25:58,344
Gould: that spark would be
Enough to be able
473
00:25:58,379 --> 00:26:03,172
To ignite a leaking hydrogen
Mixture from the hindenburg.
474
00:26:03,206 --> 00:26:06,206
Narrator: investigators discover
That an electric spark
475
00:26:06,241 --> 00:26:08,862
Ignites the hindenburg.
476
00:26:08,896 --> 00:26:11,586
62 of the 97 onboard
477
00:26:11,620 --> 00:26:14,206
Survived the resulting fire.
478
00:26:14,241 --> 00:26:17,310
How can so many people
Escape the inferno?
479
00:26:27,655 --> 00:26:30,413
Narrator: the hindenburg airship
Leaking hydrogen
480
00:26:30,448 --> 00:26:33,896
And electrically charged by
A huge thunderstorm
481
00:26:33,931 --> 00:26:36,103
Approaches
Lakehurst, new jersey.
482
00:26:36,137 --> 00:26:39,931
♪♪
483
00:26:39,965 --> 00:26:43,758
During the landing, most
Passengers are in the lounge.
484
00:26:43,793 --> 00:26:47,310
They have no idea what's
Happening 400 feet behind them.
485
00:26:49,482 --> 00:26:52,344
A spark ignites a gasbag
In the tail
486
00:26:52,379 --> 00:26:54,482
And turns it into a fireball.
487
00:26:56,517 --> 00:27:01,517
A huge flame blasts
Through the central walkway.
488
00:27:01,551 --> 00:27:05,413
Fire engulfs five crew
In the central control rooms
489
00:27:05,448 --> 00:27:08,724
And traps nine crew
In the bow.
490
00:27:08,758 --> 00:27:11,620
The nose becomes
A giant blowtorch,
491
00:27:11,655 --> 00:27:15,379
And the ship starts to crash.
492
00:27:15,413 --> 00:27:20,172
How can 62 of the 97 people
On board survive this inferno?
493
00:27:24,724 --> 00:27:27,655
Airship historian
Barbara waibel hunts for answers
494
00:27:27,689 --> 00:27:31,413
In the town
Where the hindenburg is built.
495
00:27:31,448 --> 00:27:34,689
Friedrichshafen, germany.
496
00:27:34,724 --> 00:27:37,620
The zeppelin museum houses
A full-scale replica
497
00:27:37,655 --> 00:27:41,241
Of the hindenburg's interior.
498
00:27:41,275 --> 00:27:43,379
[ speaking german ]
499
00:27:48,965 --> 00:27:51,965
Narrator: the trip across
The atlantic takes three days.
500
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,620
♪♪
501
00:27:54,655 --> 00:27:58,000
A round trip cost $720.
502
00:27:58,034 --> 00:28:00,827
♪♪
503
00:28:00,862 --> 00:28:04,206
Not much today, but in 1937,
504
00:28:04,241 --> 00:28:09,517
It's half the average
U.S. Worker's annual salary.
505
00:28:18,103 --> 00:28:22,068
The need to save weight
Is the biggest priority.
506
00:28:22,103 --> 00:28:26,310
Each cabin only contains
What is absolutely essential.
507
00:28:31,103 --> 00:28:33,344
The hindenburg
Makes its final approach
508
00:28:33,379 --> 00:28:35,344
Towards lakehurst, new jersey.
509
00:28:35,379 --> 00:28:38,379
Most passengers are in one
Of the two lounges
510
00:28:38,413 --> 00:28:41,793
Enjoying the dramatic views
Of new york city.
511
00:28:41,827 --> 00:28:44,172
The hindenburg is designed
With vast windows
512
00:28:44,206 --> 00:28:46,862
Along the length of each lounge,
513
00:28:46,896 --> 00:28:49,482
Reconstructed here
At the museum.
514
00:28:54,896 --> 00:28:57,206
As the hindenburg
Descends to the airfield
515
00:28:57,241 --> 00:28:59,862
At lakehurst naval base,
516
00:28:59,896 --> 00:29:01,620
The large windows in the lounges
517
00:29:01,655 --> 00:29:05,379
Are the most popular place
To be,
518
00:29:05,413 --> 00:29:06,862
But the passengers here are
519
00:29:06,896 --> 00:29:10,206
The first to notice
The disaster.
520
00:29:19,655 --> 00:29:22,103
♪♪
521
00:29:22,137 --> 00:29:24,655
The windows not only
Help alert passengers
522
00:29:24,689 --> 00:29:27,931
To the unfolding disaster...
523
00:29:27,965 --> 00:29:30,517
They help with a hasty escape.
524
00:29:42,482 --> 00:29:45,379
The hindenburg catches fire
200 feet in the air
525
00:29:45,413 --> 00:29:48,689
Before it crashes to the ground.
526
00:29:48,724 --> 00:29:50,413
People escaping must wait
527
00:29:50,448 --> 00:29:53,034
For exactly the right moment
To jump.
528
00:30:06,758 --> 00:30:10,000
[ indistinct shouting ]
529
00:30:15,931 --> 00:30:20,965
But not all passengers are
In the lounges during landing.
530
00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:26,000
Many are in their cabins
Preparing to disembark.
531
00:30:26,034 --> 00:30:28,206
They face greater danger.
532
00:30:28,241 --> 00:30:30,965
♪♪
533
00:30:37,965 --> 00:30:40,586
The cabins' modern
Minimalist design
534
00:30:40,620 --> 00:30:43,413
Lacks one crucial feature --
535
00:30:43,448 --> 00:30:45,965
A window.
536
00:30:47,379 --> 00:30:50,275
All the cabins are situated
In the center of the airship
537
00:30:50,310 --> 00:30:54,000
With no views to the outside.
538
00:30:54,034 --> 00:30:55,655
Passengers in their cabins
539
00:30:55,689 --> 00:30:59,793
Are unaware of the disaster
Unfolding around them.
540
00:31:12,241 --> 00:31:15,896
It takes just 32 seconds from
The first flames being spotted
541
00:31:15,931 --> 00:31:18,379
To the giant airship
Hitting the ground.
542
00:31:18,413 --> 00:31:20,931
[ indistinct shouting ]
543
00:31:20,965 --> 00:31:26,137
Passengers still in their cabins
Have no time to escape.
544
00:31:31,862 --> 00:31:35,689
No one in their cabin
Survives the disaster.
545
00:31:36,931 --> 00:31:40,137
23 passengers do escape.
546
00:31:40,172 --> 00:31:43,689
Every one of them
Are in the lounges.
547
00:31:43,724 --> 00:31:46,862
However, the crew are spread
Throughout the airship,
548
00:31:49,448 --> 00:31:51,724
14 of the 61 crew onboard
549
00:31:51,758 --> 00:31:55,517
Are killed almost instantly
In the fire.
550
00:31:55,551 --> 00:31:58,137
The rest have a chance
To make their escape.
551
00:32:02,482 --> 00:32:06,448
♪♪
552
00:32:06,482 --> 00:32:08,103
At the time of the disaster,
553
00:32:08,137 --> 00:32:10,034
The captain is overseeing
The landing
554
00:32:10,068 --> 00:32:13,034
From the hindenburg control car.
555
00:32:19,724 --> 00:32:21,689
The control car is far away
556
00:32:21,724 --> 00:32:24,620
From the start of the fire
At the tail.
557
00:32:24,655 --> 00:32:27,068
The captain and 11 of the crew
Here escape
558
00:32:27,103 --> 00:32:30,758
When the airship crashes
To the ground.
559
00:32:42,724 --> 00:32:46,103
♪♪
560
00:32:46,137 --> 00:32:48,586
But this is not the end
Of their ordeal.
561
00:32:48,620 --> 00:32:51,310
♪♪
562
00:32:51,344 --> 00:32:53,482
Now on the ground,
They must find their way
563
00:32:53,517 --> 00:32:55,413
Through the burning wreckage.
564
00:33:08,448 --> 00:33:10,586
Two of the crew
In the control car die
565
00:33:10,620 --> 00:33:13,000
Trying to escape.
566
00:33:13,034 --> 00:33:14,724
The captain survives,
567
00:33:14,758 --> 00:33:17,551
But is severely burnt
Fleeing the wreckage.
568
00:33:18,758 --> 00:33:21,000
Other members of the crew
Are luckier.
569
00:33:21,034 --> 00:33:25,172
♪♪
570
00:33:25,206 --> 00:33:29,206
The engine cars are far away
From where the fire starts,
571
00:33:29,241 --> 00:33:31,965
And 9 of the 11 crew there
Escape.
572
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,965
♪♪
573
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,137
With the tail virtually
Touching the ground,
574
00:33:38,172 --> 00:33:42,655
All four crew in the rear also
Walk away virtually unscathed.
575
00:33:45,862 --> 00:33:51,965
In total, 39 of the 61 crew
Survived the disaster.
576
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,931
But could the entire
Catastrophe have been averted?
577
00:33:57,034 --> 00:33:58,862
What can the captain
Do differently
578
00:33:58,896 --> 00:34:00,793
To stop the disaster?
579
00:34:11,034 --> 00:34:15,586
Narrator: lakehurst, new jersey,
May 1937.
580
00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:19,965
The wreckage of the hindenburg
Lies scattered on the airfield.
581
00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:22,206
35 people are dead.
582
00:34:22,241 --> 00:34:24,827
♪♪
583
00:34:24,862 --> 00:34:26,517
Can the captain of the airship
584
00:34:26,551 --> 00:34:28,724
Do anything to stop
The disaster?
585
00:34:28,758 --> 00:34:32,758
♪♪
586
00:34:32,793 --> 00:34:36,034
Mats backlin is
A retired airship pilot.
587
00:34:37,931 --> 00:34:40,413
Mats programs
This state-of-the-art simulator
588
00:34:40,448 --> 00:34:42,586
To exactly replicate
The conditions
589
00:34:42,620 --> 00:34:45,241
On the day of the disaster.
590
00:34:45,275 --> 00:34:47,310
In the search for clues,
591
00:34:47,344 --> 00:34:50,689
He's re-created the hindenburg's
Precise flight path.
592
00:34:50,724 --> 00:34:54,379
♪♪
593
00:34:54,413 --> 00:34:58,103
Backlin:
There are major differences
Between airships and planes,
594
00:34:58,137 --> 00:35:03,517
But the trickiest part
Of any operation is the landing.
595
00:35:03,551 --> 00:35:05,000
The ground can be
Very unforgiving
596
00:35:05,034 --> 00:35:08,586
If you hit it the wrong way.
597
00:35:08,620 --> 00:35:12,931
Narrator: the hindenburg is
Flying through a thunderstorm.
598
00:35:12,965 --> 00:35:17,655
It charges the airship
With lethal electricity.
599
00:35:17,689 --> 00:35:22,034
And puts it hours
Behind schedule.
600
00:35:22,068 --> 00:35:24,758
The captain decides
To land fast.
601
00:35:24,793 --> 00:35:26,793
He uses a quick
And efficient method
602
00:35:26,827 --> 00:35:29,586
Called a flying moor.
603
00:35:29,620 --> 00:35:31,689
In a flying moor,
604
00:35:31,724 --> 00:35:34,551
The hindenburg drops
Its ropes at a high altitude
605
00:35:34,586 --> 00:35:36,655
And is winched to the ground.
606
00:35:36,689 --> 00:35:38,689
But only the airship's frame
607
00:35:38,724 --> 00:35:41,137
Is safely discharged
Of electricity.
608
00:35:41,172 --> 00:35:44,689
While it's 200 feet in the air,
The height of the airship
609
00:35:44,724 --> 00:35:47,689
Increases the electrical charge
Of the skin,
610
00:35:47,724 --> 00:35:51,758
Causing the catastrophic spark.
611
00:35:51,793 --> 00:35:54,551
The captain's choice to land
Using a flying moor
612
00:35:54,586 --> 00:35:57,758
Is the catalyst
For the disaster.
613
00:35:57,793 --> 00:36:00,517
Mats thinks there's
A safer way to land.
614
00:36:00,551 --> 00:36:05,689
We're going to try
The approach at a lower level,
615
00:36:05,724 --> 00:36:09,482
Narrator: airships can also land
Like conventional aircraft,
616
00:36:09,517 --> 00:36:11,862
Slowly reducing speed
And altitude
617
00:36:11,896 --> 00:36:14,103
Until coming to rest
On the ground.
618
00:36:14,137 --> 00:36:18,931
♪♪
619
00:36:18,965 --> 00:36:24,758
A low landing is much slower
And harder for a pilot to do,
620
00:36:24,793 --> 00:36:28,827
But it dramatically reduces
The risk of a disastrous spark.
621
00:36:28,862 --> 00:36:31,241
[ thunder crashes ]
622
00:36:31,275 --> 00:36:33,931
Mats attempts to land
Like an aircraft
623
00:36:33,965 --> 00:36:37,310
To see if the captain can do it
And avert the catastrophe.
624
00:36:37,344 --> 00:36:40,068
♪♪
625
00:36:40,103 --> 00:36:43,137
Backlin:
The flight crew has more tasks,
626
00:36:43,172 --> 00:36:44,965
More conditions to deal with.
627
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:49,206
If you're very low, you can
Easily post the tail
628
00:36:49,241 --> 00:36:52,586
To strike a tree
Or even the ground.
629
00:36:52,620 --> 00:36:54,655
Narrator: mats approaches
Lakehurst airfield
630
00:36:54,689 --> 00:36:57,275
And begins the critical stage
Of the landing.
631
00:36:57,310 --> 00:37:00,034
♪♪
632
00:37:00,068 --> 00:37:04,551
Backlin: we're coming into
The final approach.
633
00:37:04,586 --> 00:37:08,965
Try to avoid hitting pine tree
On the right here.
634
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:10,551
Narrator:
Mats safely brings down
635
00:37:10,586 --> 00:37:14,896
The massive airship
Onto the airfield.
636
00:37:14,931 --> 00:37:18,862
We're now going to be
Settling down to the ground.
637
00:37:23,724 --> 00:37:28,517
Narrator:
Mats' new experiment proves
The disaster is not inevitable.
638
00:37:28,551 --> 00:37:32,137
The captain could have chosen
The slower but safer option.
639
00:37:32,172 --> 00:37:36,172
♪♪
640
00:37:36,206 --> 00:37:38,896
The hindenburg disaster
Is seen around the globe
641
00:37:38,931 --> 00:37:42,827
And shocks the entire world.
642
00:37:42,862 --> 00:37:46,620
The catastrophe brings an
Abrupt end to the airship era.
643
00:37:46,655 --> 00:37:48,896
♪♪
644
00:37:48,931 --> 00:37:52,034
Astonishingly,
Dr. Praskovia milova believes
645
00:37:52,068 --> 00:37:55,551
That despite the tragedy,
Hydrogen-filled airships
646
00:37:55,586 --> 00:37:59,517
Could grace our skies
Once again.
647
00:37:59,551 --> 00:38:01,620
Hydrogen's amazing
Lifting power
648
00:38:01,655 --> 00:38:04,379
Means it could be the perfect
Green alternative
649
00:38:04,413 --> 00:38:06,827
For moving cargo.
650
00:38:06,862 --> 00:38:09,965
Praskovia and her team
Are building a brand-new airship
651
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:14,310
They hope will avoid
The mistakes of the past.
652
00:38:14,344 --> 00:38:18,689
We've spent so much time by now
Designing and researching
653
00:38:18,724 --> 00:38:21,931
All the components
Of the airship model
654
00:38:21,965 --> 00:38:25,000
Due to the disasters
That happened in the past
655
00:38:25,034 --> 00:38:28,448
With the hydrogen airships.
656
00:38:28,482 --> 00:38:31,068
Narrator: they develop a 50-foot
Prototype model
657
00:38:31,103 --> 00:38:34,137
To test their technology.
658
00:38:34,172 --> 00:38:36,655
The airship is built
From carbon-fiber tubes
659
00:38:36,689 --> 00:38:39,517
That are corrosion resistant.
660
00:38:39,551 --> 00:38:41,103
We are using carbon tubes,
661
00:38:41,137 --> 00:38:44,551
Which are light,
Which are strong,
662
00:38:44,586 --> 00:38:46,931
And they are also
Electrically conductive,
663
00:38:46,965 --> 00:38:51,103
Which is very important
For a hydrogen airship,
664
00:38:51,137 --> 00:38:53,482
Narrator:
Praskovia needs to test
665
00:38:53,517 --> 00:38:56,379
The most critical component
Of her design --
666
00:38:56,413 --> 00:39:00,689
The material that makes up
The hydrogen gasbags.
667
00:39:00,724 --> 00:39:02,896
She's discovered
A brand-new fabric
668
00:39:02,931 --> 00:39:07,172
She thinks will prevent
Any possible leak.
669
00:39:07,206 --> 00:39:11,137
Milova: the solution is to have
Two layers of plastic film
670
00:39:11,172 --> 00:39:16,034
For even more gas-tightness,
Plus carbon fiber,
671
00:39:16,068 --> 00:39:21,034
Which is a synthetic material
To make it even more strong.
672
00:39:21,068 --> 00:39:24,241
Narrator: praskovia tests
Her new material.
673
00:39:24,275 --> 00:39:29,379
Will it be stronger than the
Hindenburg's original fabrics?
674
00:39:29,413 --> 00:39:34,241
She's using a machine that will
Test them to destruction.
675
00:39:34,275 --> 00:39:37,862
Basically pulls away
Until the sample is broken,
676
00:39:37,896 --> 00:39:40,517
And then the force is measured.
677
00:39:40,551 --> 00:39:43,586
Lab technician inge desmet
Loads the tension machine
678
00:39:43,620 --> 00:39:46,034
With the material used
In the hindenburg
679
00:39:46,068 --> 00:39:47,724
And sets the test running.
680
00:39:47,758 --> 00:39:52,655
♪♪
681
00:39:52,689 --> 00:39:55,413
The force ramps up...
682
00:39:55,448 --> 00:39:57,586
And rips apart the cotton.
683
00:40:00,758 --> 00:40:07,310
It gives us around 200 newtons
Of force to break it.
684
00:40:07,344 --> 00:40:11,172
Narrator:
Praskovia runs the same test
On her brand-new material.
685
00:40:11,206 --> 00:40:16,793
♪♪
686
00:40:16,827 --> 00:40:20,724
It doesn't rip
Until 700 newtons.
687
00:40:20,758 --> 00:40:24,793
Her modern fabric
Is much stronger.
688
00:40:24,827 --> 00:40:27,965
Compare it to the cotton-based
Material
689
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:29,689
Used in hindenburg,
690
00:40:29,724 --> 00:40:33,896
This is 3.5 times more strong.
691
00:40:33,931 --> 00:40:36,413
Narrator: praskovia is confident
She's found a material
692
00:40:36,448 --> 00:40:38,655
To safely contain hydrogen...
693
00:40:38,689 --> 00:40:41,586
♪♪
694
00:40:41,620 --> 00:40:43,551
...And our skies
Could soon be filled
695
00:40:43,586 --> 00:40:47,137
By a fleet of brand-new
Hydrogen airships.
696
00:40:47,172 --> 00:40:51,655
♪♪
697
00:40:51,689 --> 00:40:53,241
The crash of the hindenburg
698
00:40:53,275 --> 00:40:58,482
Is one of the most spectacular
Aviation disasters in history.
699
00:40:58,517 --> 00:41:01,689
Modern investigations reveal
A punctured hydrogen bag
700
00:41:01,724 --> 00:41:04,413
Creates an explosive gas
701
00:41:04,448 --> 00:41:07,206
And a spark of electricity
That ignites it.
702
00:41:07,241 --> 00:41:11,241
♪♪
703
00:41:11,275 --> 00:41:14,862
35 people die
In the catastrophic fire.
704
00:41:14,896 --> 00:41:18,241
♪♪
705
00:41:18,275 --> 00:41:20,724
But new discoveries
From the tragedy
706
00:41:20,758 --> 00:41:25,413
May mean a new age
Of hydrogen airships is dawning.
707
00:41:25,448 --> 00:41:32,137
♪♪
708
00:41:32,172 --> 00:41:38,827
♪♪
709
00:41:38,862 --> 00:41:45,551
♪♪
710
00:41:45,586 --> 00:41:52,241
♪♪
711
00:41:52,275 --> 00:41:59,000
♪♪
54298
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