* Flammability: Hydrogen is highly flammable, posing a serious fire hazard. This was tragically demonstrated in the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.
* Safety: Helium is non-flammable and inert, making it much safer for use in airships.
* Lifting Capacity: While hydrogen has a slightly higher lifting capacity per unit volume than helium, this difference is negligible in practical terms.
* Availability: Helium is more readily available and cheaper than hydrogen.
Historically, hydrogen was used in airships because it was cheaper and more readily available than helium. However, after the Hindenburg disaster, helium became the preferred choice due to its safety advantages.
Therefore, using hydrogen in a blimp is a major safety risk and is not considered a viable option.