Talk:ZS2G-1 Blimps

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[edit] Fun and games with designations. Why the ZS2G was originally called the XZP5K.

During much of the first 60 years of the last century it was either easier to get Congress to go for a new aircraft, or for an 'new version" of an old one.

There are many examples of this. A good example is the "F-93" which was an all weather fighter with a largely new airframe, a new engine, and an all weather radar and fire control system based upon the F-86. By the time that production examples were ordered, the Air Force dropped the "F-93" designation and called it "F-86D". The navy had the F9F-9 which was the designation used to gain initial funding for a new airplane. The F9F series had included straight winged and swept wing versions, because when the swept wing aircraft was under development it was easier to sell congress on a 'new version' than a new airplane. Likewise the "F9F-9," when it became more convenient to bill it as a 'new' airplane than a "development," became the F11F.

So it was with the "XZP5K" the designation made it appear to be a rebuild of the K-ships as the earlier ZP2K (later ZSG-2).

The ZS2G-1 was a totally new design and not a development, as the far more honest Z (LTA) S (scout) 2 (as in second design produced by the manufacturer) G (as in Goodyear) -1 meaning the first variant of that design.

The deception by the Navy was minor compared to that involved in the "K-1" which was composed of an "experimental" car supposedly ordered to test on a J-class envelope, *the J/K car" and an experimental envelope ordered to test blau gas fuel as used by the Graf Zeppelin.

Put two separate 'experiments" (that just happened to fit, using a totally novel car suspension system) and suddenly you have "K-1" which NEVER had a serial number, which is to say was never authorized by Congress as required by law.Mark Lincoln 17:42, 21 July 2007 (UTC)