Unidentified Airship Gondola?

[Double Hydco]

This is from my wife's family photo album. Her great grandfather served with the RFC/RAF in The Great War. During the interwar period he worked as ground crew on airships, notably the R34. The photo perhaps shows an airship gondola stored in a hangar but it doesn't match those of the R34. I wondered if anyone could provide anymore information?

Thanks, DH

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1099/img_3584_d357a9decba44cb1cb0624855ec8351920baedc1.jpg

[chevvron]

I'm not sure if it's a 'gondola' as such; it might be an engine pod with an access ladder to enable someone to access the engine whilst in flight.
Doesn't look like R34, 100 or 101; maybe German?

[bigsmelly]

I think it might be an observation pod that is lowered from a larger airship, through cloud for a closer look

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spy_basket

[longer ron]

I agree with Chevvron - it could be an Engine Car - looks like a square radiator mounted on the front (left),not easy to get good quality close up images of Engine Cars.

[longer ron]

It also has 'Handling' Rails on the lower side for Ground Crew to Hold on to.

[longer ron]

Very similar to an R31 Engine Car,not exactly the same design but has all the same elements/components.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/719x455/r31_c3f09fe68a74ec55a03da166275ff1ae535e058b.jpg

[longer ron]

The pic I posted above is one of the centre 2 Engine Cars,R31 originally had 6 engines.
I think the OP photo might be a R31 Front or Rear Engine Car as these appear to be 'sleeker'/thinner.
The R31/R32 were wooden construction Airships - based on Schutte Lanz designs.
After the initial test flight of R31 - one of the rear engines was removed and the Airship carried on with just 5 engines for the loss of only 5 MPH.

[Double Hydco]

Thanks for the replies everyone, and especially longer ron, thats very interesting. It looks like the engine car in my image has an Astrodome fitted?

[Yellow Sun]

For a fascinating insight into the operation of airships i would strongly recommend My Airship Flights 1915-1930 by Cpt George Meager AFC. (https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&an=Meager&tn=My+airship+flights&kn=&isbn=) Very readable, the accounts of the early days during World War 1 are hair raising.

YS

[longer ron]

It looks like the engine car in my image has an Astrodome fitted?

Yes DH - it does look like an Astrodome is fitted, the Airships did have a Navigating Officer and were designed for oceanic flights so I suppose we should not be surprised,perhaps a couple of the Gondolas would have an Astrodome to give the Nav a little flexibility and reasonable arcs of view.If it is an R31 Gondola - the Nav would certainly not be able to get much of an all round view from the Control Car due to its design/placement right up under the nose of the ship,Airship Crew members were certainly adept at moving around the ship.
We do not have an Airship specific books and our bookshelves are already creaking under the weight of Aviation/Railway books :)

[treadigraph]

Nevil Shute's description in Slide Rule of the R-100's crew walking around on the top of her envelope in flight always gives me vertigo!