A friend of mine visited New York City recently and sent me this very important information along with photo evidence.
"The top section of the Empire State Building, including the spire, was
actually designed to allow dirigibles to dock at the building and
passengers to disembark at the top. The interior of the spire has a
massive winch installed where a drag line from the blimp could be
attached and reeled in, then a small walkway would be extended to the
bridge of the ship."
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Apparently the only reason it was never used was due to high wind speeds at that height.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Such a freaking shame. We were just a few gusts away from a steampunk utopia.
Such a shame! I wonder how we could have baffled the winds.
ReplyDeleteCool surreality! (Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDeleteI imagine transferring from ship to building could have been a very uncomfortable experience. And given bad weather conditions it would have been incredibly dangerous.
ReplyDeleteFor a steampunk novelist - perfect!
I say if we can land aircraft on a big flat aircraft carrier pitching in the heaving seas, we can dock an airship at the Empire State Building. All we're lacking is the will.
ReplyDeleteEr, and an airship.
This makes me so happy
ReplyDeleteYeesh, I think I'd rather disembark closer to the ground!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! How very, very cool!
ReplyDeleteHad to read up on that, and it seems one reason for the spire was an excuse to make the tallest building (which ties in with adding those extra stories as well).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/realestate/26scapes.html
But hey, it did make it into "Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow."
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17m0sua4ukvqjjpg/original.jpg
Killer. Really missed you in San Antonio, buddy (Sue too). We need that Pacific Rim hyperloop thing going.
ReplyDeleteDid not know that - so cool.
ReplyDeleteOh, now I am sad. The only thing that stood between Steampunk was wind.
ReplyDeleteI read in a book somewhere that they did land an airship at the top of the Empire building. (It was a fictional book.) I had no idea it was partly based on fact. I think I might have to use this now...