Article

2006-09-20 Science & Technology

Divers explore underwater 1935 wreck site of USS Macon dirigible

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Posted by Dar 2006-09-20 13:47|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The "airdock" she was built in is still standing on the south side of Akron.

Posted by Mike 2006-09-20 15:34|| 2006-09-20 15:34|| Front Page Top

#2 True story about the airdock: I was a USAF recruiter in Akron from 89-93. One of my jobs was handling USAF Academy applications, and my Liason officer for that was a Reserve LtCol who worked for Loral Aerospace, the successors for Goodyear-Zeppelin, which built Macon . He knew my interest in history and asked if I'd like to see the Airdock up close, and of course I jumped for it.
First I toured the 1910 airdock which is almost hidden by the larger structure, and then we went into the Airdock itself. We went in through a side exit - the south doors are now blocked - and my guide asked me to specifically NOT speak of what I would see when I went through the door, saying that it was probably the most classified thing at Loral those days. I was utterly mystified until I went through and saw, of all things, the original full-size shuttlecraft prop from Star Trek - the lady who had bought it and was restoring it was from Akron, and that was the most secure place she could find in Akron to store and put it back together. A couple years later, I was there again for one of Richard Branson's around-the-world balloon flight attempts.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2006-09-20 21:26|| 2006-09-20 21:26|| Front Page Top

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