Product Details

• Directors: R. G. Van Treuren
• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: June 6, 1999
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 0963974319
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,367 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars C. P. Hall reviews "The Flying Carriers" VHS, May 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Flying Carriers [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"The Flying Carriers" is the latest offering in the "airship history series" from Atlantis Productions. The two hour long tape is divided the four sub-sections. As the title implies, the primary focus of the tape is the rigid airships of U.S.S Akron and U.S.S. Macon, which were built for the U.S. Navy by the Goodyear - Zeppelin Corporation between 1929 and 1933.

My summary of video follows: The opening chapter is prologue. It primarily discusses such topics as: how the Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation came to exist, what lessons from World War 1 led the U.S. Navy to airship development, contemporary airship development in other countries, and why and how the techniques of launching and recovering airplanes from lighter- than-air craft were developed.

The competition to design two rigid airships is won by Goodyear-Zeppelin. The signed contract in hand, Goodyear-Zeppelin proceeds to build the world's largest airship hangar in Akron, OH. Before the hangar is finished, a ceremonial golden rivet is installed in the first transverse ring of the company's first airship, the ZRS- 4. The chapter closes with a discussion of airplanes chosen to be flown from the new airship. There are also motion pictures of the completed airship's engines and propellers being tested in the hangar prior to its first flight.

The second chapter begins with a maiden flight of U.S.S. Akron, her subsequent trials and delivery to Lakehurst N.A.S. There follows a walking tour of the Akron's interior including detailed descriptions of the many features of the airship. Early flights are discussed, as is the installation of the airplane recovery trapeze. Also mentioned are the initial experiments with the sub cloud car.

Akron's flying operations of 1932 are covered as is the construction progress on the second airship of the series, the ZRS-5 U.S.S. Macon. Chapter two ends in April 1933 when Akron had made substantial progress in becoming a functional flying aircraft carrier was about to be joined by sister ship Macon.

At this point there is an intermission (a pause mark so one may stop the tape without missing any of the footage or story).

Chapter three begins with the subject of experiment aircraft described in my notes as a "ZMC-2 quickie" and a discussion of mooring and ground handling methodology. The story of the crash of USS Akron is illustrated and discussed. There follows the christening of the Macon and its 1933 and early 1934 flying operations. The chapter end discussing the political changes in Germany and how they affected the Zeppelin Company.

The final chapter begins with Macon leaving California 1934 to participate in Caribbean Fleet problems. The damage to the starboard fin over Texas is described. The stay at Opa-Locka, Florida, where repairs were made is illustrated with some of most interesting but not the best quality footage in the tape - home movies of Macon an F9Cs made by someone stationed at or visiting the base.

Highlights of the Macon's career and progress lead up to its crash in February 1935. What is left is anti-climax. The Durand Commission, Roosevelt & Company's LTA follies, Hindenburg's progress leading to the disaster (with a little uniquely Van Treuren emphasis) and modern footage of the wreckage of Macon 1200 feet under the Pacific Ocean.

Atlantis Productions has done some serious extensive digging. They have found, saved, and offer for your enjoyment and edification magnificent collection of clean high-quality Akron Macon motion picture footage. Those interested in the HTA aspects will not be disappointed as the Vought UO-1, Consolidated N2Y-1, all of the variations of the Curtiss F9C-1 and -2 and the Waco XJW-1 are all there as well.

I offer an enthusiastic recommendation to purchase this tape to anyone interested in 20th-Century naval history in general or LTA history particular. I know of no other video program ever produced with the motion picture quality and content of this offering.