The fantasy of the majestic airships lives on

The luxury passenger airship died with the Hindenburg on that fiery morning in Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1937. But the memory of the concept of a luxury passenger airship still lives on. But every time plans arise to create a state-of-the-art luxury passenger/cargo airship, economics and finances doom it.

Fear of exploding airships is a myth. People knew that long ago had the Hindenburg been filled with helium then it would never have exploded. The Hindenburg's manufacturer tried to purchase helium from the world's only sole source, the United States, but President Roosevelt blocked the sale, fearing the Nazi German government would divert the helium to military airships. Memories of World War I Imperial German zeppelin airships bombing London were still fresh.

No one wants to give up flying from point a to point b at the speed of 600 mph. The luxury seagoing cruise ships offer luxurious, relaxing, slow-going vacation trips. The luxury passenger/cargo airship has yet to succeed in filling the middle ground.

But people who enjoy science fiction are still thrilled to contemplate relaxing two to four day excursion trips, watching the world from 3,000 feet up, while enjoying good food, comfortable state rooms, and the company of fellow passengers while not cooped up in crowded, unendurable airline passenger planes.