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& REVIEWS THE GREAT AIRSHIP OF 1897 and adds speculation of his own to by J. Allan Danelek try to get to the bottom of the Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009 mystery, admitting that we'll probably ISBN 978-1-935487-03-5 (I63pp tpb) never know the entire truth. Avail: adventuresunlimitedpress.com THE SECRETS OF DELLSCHAU by Dennis Crenshaw in collaboration TPRUVUCATIVE LOOK arr MONT MY with P. G. Navarro ye Anomalist Books, USA, 2009 ’ ISBN 978-1-933665-35-I (285, b GREAT AIRSHIP Avail: wasecrecotDelkcheucen x, iif 1897 Tic visionary ink and watercolour a illustrations of artist/draughtsman Charles A. A. Dellschau came to light by accident in 1968 when an antiques dealer in Houston, Texas, discovered hem being disposed of at the local ALLAN DANELEK dump. Eventually graphic artist Pete avarro acquired several of the he subject of airships has voluminous hand-made books of fascinated Jeff Danelek since he unique illustrations and spent several was a teenager. Here he turns his decades documenting and decoding attention to the unsolved “airship hem. Newly retired researcher flap" that started in November 1896 Dennis Crenshaw, of The Hollow Earth over Sacramento and then San nsider, has collaborated with Navarro Francisco, California, and reemerged jn telling the story behind these early the next year, appearing over amazing drawings, which feature Chicago in April only to peter out by ighter-than-air "Aero" flying May 1897 over the Midwest. machines as well as coded messages. The attitude of the time, as Dellschau, born in Prussia in 1830, reflected in 1,500 newspaper reports, — seems to have spent many “lost was that that this cigar-shaped craft years" in California with the Sonora was neither imaginary nor Aero Club, engaged in R&D of these extraterrestrial but was a new early dirigible craft that were powered technology being put through its by a mysterious “green crystal” and paces. As for who was responsible given lighter-than-air capability by for the American airship, or airships, — means of a strange gas called "NB", Danelek discusses various scenarios, From his close analysis, Navarro e.g., involving an eccentric aviation has identified many of the club pioneer, Lyman Wiswell Gilmore, Jr, members and speculates on another and an aviation draughtsman, mysterious group referred to by Charles A. A. Dellschau, who was part pélischau as "NYMZA", possibly of the secretive Sonora Aero Club located in eastern USA. The death of that reportedly constructed dirigibles 5 key player, probably Peter Mennis, in California from the 1850s. As for meant that the secret of the fuel and rhe funded the project, the name of gas mixes died with him and the _ FH. benjamin keeps Cropping up. experimental flights stopped Certainly, Danelek believes thai the altogether—possibly well before the materials and technology to build an airship sightings over US cities in airship capable of being guided over 1896-97. Navarro has identified long distances were available in the many Aero designs and suggests that mid-1890s, and he discusses design ceveral of them did fly in the second specifications for building such a half of the 19th century. Aviation craft. He reconstructs the details of buffs and art-lovers should praise what is known about the airship flap Crenshaw's and Navarro's efforts. THE GREAT AIRSHIP OF 1897 by J. Allan Danelek Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009 ISBN 978-I-935487-03-5 (163pp tpb) Avail: adventuresunlimitedpress.com 1 PROVOCATIVE LOUK at rut MOST MY’ AVIATION EVEN GREAT AIRSHIP A |) J, ALLAN DANELEK he subject of airships has fascinated Jeff Danelek since he was a teenager. Here he turns his attention to the unsolved “airship flap" that started in November 1896 over Sacramento and then San Francisco, California, and reemerged early the next year, appearing over Chicago in April only to peter out by May 1897 over the Midwest. The attitude of the time, as reflected in 1,500 newspaper reports, was that that this cigar-shaped craft was neither imaginary nor extraterrestrial but was a new technology being put through its paces. As for who was responsible for the American airship, or airships, Danelek discusses various scenarios, e.g., involving an eccentric aviation pioneer, Lyman Wiswell Gilmore, Jr, and an aviation draughtsman, Charles A. A. Dellschau, who was part of the secretive Sonora Aero Club that reportedly constructed dirigibles in California from the 1850s. As for who funded the project, the name of E. H. Benjamin keeps cropping up. Certainly, Danelek believes that the materials and technology to build an airship capable of being guided over long distances were available in the mid-1890s, and he discusses design specifications for building such a craft. He reconstructs the details of what is known about the airship flap NEXUS ¢ 75 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com