in 1930, the us navy airship was used to test the trapeze system developed to launch and recover fixed wing aircraft from rigid airships. the tests were a success, and the purpose built airships and were designed to carry parasite aircraft inside a hangar bay within the hull. the airships could carry up to five single-seat curtiss f9c sparrowhawks for scouting or two-seat fleet n2y-1s for training. in 1934, two two-seat waco ubf xjw-1 biplanes equipped with skyhooks were delivered to the uss "macon".