:quattro digest, Vol 1 #3116 - History Repeats, yadda, yadda

[l.leung at juno.com]

Micheal Reibs wrote:

> the Hindenburg was filled with Helium

Nope, Hydrogen, a rather reactive element in Group 1, which is essentially a metal. Easily combines with Oxygen in a highly exothermic process (oxidation) which most people associate with flames, makes water. HOWEVER, many believe what set the Hindenburg aflame was not the hydrogen filled bags inside the dirigible's airframe but the aluminized skin (had some other element in the skin too) which due to the high reactivity of (partially) the aluminum, got set off by contact or static with the mooring tower. Reasons sited:

1) the particular combination used on the skin is known (now) to have a very low activation energy for oxidation (i.e. it's easy to set off)
2) the reaction of the material is extremely exothermic (i.e. really hot!)
3) newsreel footage shows the ship burning from the outside in, not the other way around. In addition, if the hydrogen lighted first, the ship would have exploded (due to contained heat and expanding gases) rather than burned. 
4) no one is denying that once the ship began to burn that the hydrogen didn't get set off, but it is not the likely cause.

As for the VW Diesel figures, they are availible at your local VW dealer. VW TDI's are selling, rather well for diesel cars in the US, with an almost cult following. They do cost more than their gas counterparts. And, also keep in mind, M-B produces cars of many levels for the world market, we only get the luxo versions. If they were willing to import the econo (i.e. what they sell as taxis) versions here as a diesel, though they'd still be more expensive than the Impala, they'd be much more price comparable, though then the Impala would easily out-content the M-B. So being it, don't hold your breath.