Zeppelin Hangar at Santa Cruz Air Force Base, Military airship hangar in Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Zeppelin Hangar at Santa Cruz Air Force Base is a vast steel structure that once housed large airships for operations and maintenance. The facility features two enormous gates designed specifically for moving these aircraft in and out of the hangar.
The hangar was built in 1936 under President Getúlio Vargas as a base for German airship operations. After hosting these aircraft until 1937, the facility ceased its active role in transatlantic aviation.
The hangar takes its name from its purpose as a mooring facility for airships and became a symbol of Brazil's aviation ambitions during an era when such technology fascinated the world. Visitors can appreciate how this massive space was designed around the specific needs of these delicate aircraft.
The hangar sits within a military air base roughly 50 kilometers from downtown Rio de Janeiro and is reachable by car. Visitors should verify access in advance since it remains an active military facility with restricted areas.
The hangar contained a hydrogen production facility built specifically to supply the airships operating from this location. This technical setup made the site especially important for servicing these aircraft.
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