Hydrogen is the colourless, odourless light gas that is used to lift airships.

Hydrogen has been used for many years in the aviation industry due to its buoyancy properties. It is the lightest element on the periodic table, making it an ideal choice for lifting large objects like airships. When heated, hydrogen expands and becomes even lighter, providing the necessary lift for the airship to ascend into the sky.

Despite its effectiveness, there are some safety concerns associated with using hydrogen as a lifting gas. Hydrogen is highly flammable and can pose a risk of explosion if not handled properly. This was famously demonstrated in the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, when a hydrogen-filled airship caught fire and crashed while attempting to land in New Jersey.

Despite this tragic event, hydrogen is still used as a lifting gas in some modern airships, albeit with stricter safety protocols in place. Many airships now use a combination of helium and hydrogen to achieve lift, as helium is non-flammable and can help reduce the risk of fire.

For more information on the use of hydrogen in airships, you can visit airships.net. This website provides a comprehensive history of airships and the role that hydrogen has played in their development.

Overall, hydrogen remains a popular choice for lifting airships due to its buoyancy properties, despite the safety concerns associated with its flammability. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that alternative lifting gases will be explored to ensure the safety of airship travel in the future.

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