Akron's spy basket was intended to lower an observer through the cloud layer while the airship remained concealed above it. The first test carried sandbags, but the basket oscillated so violently that it climbed toward the airship's equator and threatened the vessel. A stabilizing fin was added after the test. The basket was never used again, leaving the proposed means of observation unproven.
Notable Point · 1:08:02-1:11:11
The unstable spy basket beneath the clouds
A suspended observation car was meant to let Akron remain hidden above cloud while an observer watched the fleet below, but violent oscillation made the experiment impractical.