Airship Terminology

Purser · 30 June 2006, 03:41 AM

Could any lighter than air specialist advise please what the airship-speak was in the Great War for the aeroplane equivalents of take-off and land?

Launch and recover sound feasible, but I am would welcome an expert opinion.

Similarly, the terms for (RNAS) kite balloons please. Fly and strike down seem to fit, but again I appreciate guidance.

Purser

Ransom E. Olds · 30 June 2006, 08:36 AM

With regard to airships a thought occurs to me on this question: airships, unlike airplanes, required both on-board and ground personnel for this procedure & I wonder if each might not have had a specific term? "Launch and recover" sounds good to me for the ground-bound launching personnel, but I wonder if the crew of the 'ship might not have had different terms? There is a question of aspect here. Ransom

30 June 2006, 09:20 AM

I know one of the terms for takeoff was "Up Ship!" I would think that the terminology would be the same as an ocean going ship.

Purser · 30 June 2006, 02:01 PM

Conjures up thoughts of "let go forrard, let go aft - half ahead together" I suppose

..... I wonder if the logs just recorded time up and time down?

adrian roberts · 30 June 2006, 04:59 PM

I've two or three books written by airship experts, and it seems that "Take-Off" and "land" are perfectly acceptable. Or occassionally "lift-off" for the former.

Adrian