A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship, which was named after the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (July 8, 1838 – March 8, 1917).
On retiring from the army in 1891, von Zeppelin devoted himself to the study of aeronautics, and his first airship was built and tested in 1900.
Von Zeppelin’s first rigid airship, the LZ-1, made its maiden flight over Lake Constance near Friedrichshafen, Germany on July 2, 1900. The Zeppelin airship had an engine and a propeller which meant the aircraft could be directed.
Zeppelins were originally used for public transport. They were first flown commercially in 1910 by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG (DELAG), the world's first airline in revenue service. By mid-1914, DELAG had carried over 10,000 fare-paying passengers on over 1,500 flights.
During World War I, a number of Zeppelin airships were employed in bombing England. Great Yarmouth was the first British town to be bombed by a Zeppelin, on January 19, 1915. London suffered its first raid on May 31 of that year.
The most intense of all the Zeppelin attacks during World War I was on September 2, 1916, when fourteen Zeppelins dropped 35,000 lb. of bombs on London and elsewhere.
Cow intestines used for sausage skins were so vital in making gas bags for German Zeppelins that during World War 1 the Kaiser banned Germans from eating sausages.
The German LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin became the first commercial passenger transatlantic flight service in 1928. The hydrogen-filled airship was named after Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
The Hindenburg and Graf Zeppelin II airships were the largest aircraft (in terms of length and volume) to take to the skies. Built in Germany between 1932 and 1938, each was 245m (803ft) long.
The Hindenburg airship caught fire and was destroyed while trying to land at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, killing over 30 people on board.
The Hindenburg Zeppelin, named after the late German president Paul von Hindenburg, was almost named Hitler but was refused by Adolf due to his dislike of large aircrafts. He later said he was glad the aircraft didn't share his name after the famous Hindenburg Disaster of 1937.
The Hindenburg disaster in 1937, along with political and economic issues, hastened the demise of Zeppelins. Sometimes, they are still used as tourist attractions, or for advertising.
The rock band Led Zeppelin got their name from a fellow musician, who predicted the group would go down like a "lead balloon."
When Led Zeppelin played together for the first time in front of a live audience in Gladsaxe, Denmark, in 1968, they used the name 'The Nobs'. This was because Eva von Zeppelin, granddaughter of the inventor of Zeppelin airships, threatened to sue them for tarnishing the family name.
Source History
 |
| Pixiebay |
On retiring from the army in 1891, von Zeppelin devoted himself to the study of aeronautics, and his first airship was built and tested in 1900.
Von Zeppelin’s first rigid airship, the LZ-1, made its maiden flight over Lake Constance near Friedrichshafen, Germany on July 2, 1900. The Zeppelin airship had an engine and a propeller which meant the aircraft could be directed.
 |
| The first flight of LZ 1 over Lake Constance (the Bodensee) in 1900 |
Zeppelins were originally used for public transport. They were first flown commercially in 1910 by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG (DELAG), the world's first airline in revenue service. By mid-1914, DELAG had carried over 10,000 fare-paying passengers on over 1,500 flights.
During World War I, a number of Zeppelin airships were employed in bombing England. Great Yarmouth was the first British town to be bombed by a Zeppelin, on January 19, 1915. London suffered its first raid on May 31 of that year.
The most intense of all the Zeppelin attacks during World War I was on September 2, 1916, when fourteen Zeppelins dropped 35,000 lb. of bombs on London and elsewhere.
Cow intestines used for sausage skins were so vital in making gas bags for German Zeppelins that during World War 1 the Kaiser banned Germans from eating sausages.
 |
| A Zeppelin flying over SMS Seydlitz |
The German LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin became the first commercial passenger transatlantic flight service in 1928. The hydrogen-filled airship was named after Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
The Hindenburg airship caught fire and was destroyed while trying to land at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, killing over 30 people on board.
The Hindenburg Zeppelin, named after the late German president Paul von Hindenburg, was almost named Hitler but was refused by Adolf due to his dislike of large aircrafts. He later said he was glad the aircraft didn't share his name after the famous Hindenburg Disaster of 1937.
The Hindenburg disaster in 1937, along with political and economic issues, hastened the demise of Zeppelins. Sometimes, they are still used as tourist attractions, or for advertising.
 |
| Pixiebay |
The rock band Led Zeppelin got their name from a fellow musician, who predicted the group would go down like a "lead balloon."
When Led Zeppelin played together for the first time in front of a live audience in Gladsaxe, Denmark, in 1968, they used the name 'The Nobs'. This was because Eva von Zeppelin, granddaughter of the inventor of Zeppelin airships, threatened to sue them for tarnishing the family name.
Source History
No comments:
Post a Comment