Hydrogen
The gas was Hydrogen.
Hindenburg.
The Hindenburg disaster ended rigid airship aviation for commercial purposes, and since then no zeppelin has ever been used to transport passengers or cargo.
Hindenburg disaster newsreel footage was created in 1937.
In their early history, buoyant airships (zepellins, blimps) were filled with hydrogen, a highly flammable gas. Since the Hindenburg disaster, hydrogen has been supplanted by helium, a much more expensive material, but one that is inert and hence much safer.
The Hindenburg disaster
The gas was Hydrogen.
It shut down the Nazi airship program and ended all research into using airships in commercial passenger service.
The only answer that comes to mind is "Airships". Hydrogen, the lightest element, was used in airships, where excess weight was undesirable. However, accidents like the Hindenburg disaster showed that Hydrogen gas was too dangerous(it is extremely flammable) to be used. Since then, Helium has been used instead. Helium is also a very light element, and is completely safe, as it is inert.
Hydrogen isn't used for airships because it is highly flammable. It was one of the causes of the Hindenburg's burning.
Hydrogen was used to fill airships because it is lighter than air, providing lift. However, hydrogen is highly flammable, which resulted in the infamous Hindenburg disaster in 1937, leading to the switch to helium as a safer alternative.
Hindenburg disaster happened on 1937-05-06.
Hindenburg.
The Hindenburg disaster ended rigid airship aviation for commercial purposes, and since then no zeppelin has ever been used to transport passengers or cargo.
Hindenburg disaster newsreel footage was created in 1937.
In their early history, buoyant airships (zepellins, blimps) were filled with hydrogen, a highly flammable gas. Since the Hindenburg disaster, hydrogen has been supplanted by helium, a much more expensive material, but one that is inert and hence much safer.
Modern airships use Helium for lift which is non-combustible whereas in the past airships such as the Hindenburg used Hydrogen for lift which is highly combustible. In addition, modern airships take advantage of new alloys and polymers which give them a much stronger airframe.