The Age of Aircraft Carriers in the Sky
EARLY BLIMP CARRYING A FIXED WING AIRCRAFT
There was a time (the 1930's, I suppose), where large zeppelins
could actually carry airplanes inside their bodies. And even more, they could launch and land these
airplanes while the zepp was flying. The airplanes were usually biplanes, and would generally be used
for aerial reconnaissance. Although I am sure if needed the pilot could lean out of the cockpit and
drop a small bomb on a tempting target... The picture (above) shows an early landing of an airplane on an Army blimp. This is
December 15, 1924, and First Lieutenant Clyde Finter flew his skyhook-equipped Sperry 'Messenger' to a
successful hook-on aboard the Army blimp TC-3. You can see the airplane hanging below the blimp.
(picture from The Airships Akron & Macon - Richard K. Smith).
PROPOSED FLYING AIRCRAFT CARRIER
Imagine an aircraft carrier floating through the skies - launching and
landing aircraft as it flies along. This has been the dream of many airship designers, and in fact
has been realized in actual, flying airships. Here is a drawing of a proposal for a flying aircraft
carrier (the ZRCV). This proposal was between the Navy and Goodyear, and would carry 9 Northrup/Douglas
BT-1 scout dive bombers. The dive bombers would launch and land on the airship (drawing from The
Goodyear Airships - Zenon Hansen)
F9C-2 HANGING FROM THE TRAPEZE
Here is a F9C-2 just after it has 'hung onto' the trapeze under the Macon.
The saddle behind the trapeze will swing down to stabilize the plane, and the plane will be swung
up into the internal hangar in the Macon. Storage of planes internally was very impractical since there
were few catwalks available for maintaining the planes, and inadequate places to stow ammunition and airplane
fuel.
(picture from The Airships Akron & Macon - Richard K. Smith)
F9C-1 HANGING BELOW THE AKRON
This is a view from above of a F9C-1 being hoisted into the hangar of
the USS Akron.
(picture from United States Naval Aviation 1910-60 - Deputy Chief of Naval Operations - Air).
THE MACON ABOUT TO LAUNCH A MAIN RUN
This is a view from below the Macon - a true flying aircraft
carrier. The Macon could carry 5 airplanes internally. Her sister ship, the Akron, could only carry
3 ships internally. If you look behind the contol gondola you can see a N2Y 'running boat'
getting ready to launch a mail run to the ground.
(picture from The Airships Akron & Macon - Richard K. Smith).