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Simple Flying

Before aircraft - how zeppelins crossed the atlantic.

Lighter than air with sleek curves and a shimmering silver appearance, the German-built Zeppelin was the fastest way to travel between the United States and Europe between 1936 and 1937.

A hundred years earlier, a Brunel designed steamship had made the Atlantic crossing in 15 days. As advances in motor-powered ships improved, that time reduced, to the point that the Queen Mary could make the crossing in five days. However, it was still much slower than traveling by Zeppelin.

The Hindenburg crossed the Atlantic in less than two days

The LZ-129 Hindenburg Zeppelin dazzled the world of transoceanic travel when it made the crossing to Europe in just 43 hours, leading its owners to print brochures and posters boasting “Two Days to Europe.” In contrast to traveling by ocean liners, no passenger aboard the Hindenburg ever complained of being seasick. Renowned American writer and humourist Mark Twain once said when talking about seasickness:

“At first you are so sick you are afraid you will die, and then you are so sick you are afraid you won’t.”

Despite its massive size and incredible luxury, the Queen Mary was no match for ocean storms that passengers said could “roll the milk out of tea.”

When describing the glory of traveling across the ocean by Zeppelin, Mary Day Winn of the New York Herald Tribune wrote :

“The real glory of Zeppelin travel … is its freedom from seasickness. It is the smoothest form of motion I have ever known, just a continuous floating, with no rolling, no dipping, and almost no change of levels. The sound of the engines can be heard only faintly – a low, steady murmur barely entering consciousness except when it slows up. There is no vibration.”

The Hindenburg was like a floating Post Office

The Zeppelin’s pivotal role was not in transporting passengers, but rather for carrying mail. So much, in fact, that they were almost floating Post Offices. Besides being much fast than boats when it came to freight, the Zeppelins came into their own when transporting perishable cargo like flowers and short-life foods.

Sadly the days of Zeppelins crossing to Europe ended on the morning of May 6, 1937, as the Hindenburg tried to dock at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey. As the Hindenburg crossed the American coast and passengers were given a sensational view of Boston, the airship continued south to New York for its traditional loop around Manhattan.

As usual, steam whistles and sirens went off all around the city as traffic came to a stop so that New Yorkers could marvel at the big silver balloon in the sky. Now already late, following headwinds over the Atlantic, the Hindenburg hastily tried to tie up to its mooring mast before bursting into flames.

The Hindenburg disaster was the end of the Zeppelin

When the scorched framework of the Zeppelin finally came to rest on the ground, bystanders eagerly rushed to the aid of passengers desperate to escape from the flames.

To this day, nobody knows what caused the Hindenburg to catch fire, with many hypotheses claiming everything from static electricity to a bomb. Some even suggest that it could have been caused by a gunshot from the ground. What we do know, though, is that despite a perfect 27-year safety record, 13 passengers, 22 crew, and one person on the ground died as a result of the fire.

With World War II looming, the Zeppelin days were already numbered. Following the Hindenburg disaster, public confidence was so shattered in the airship that the era of the transatlantic Zeppelin came to an abrupt end.

Old News, Vintage News, Historical News, Retro News

Return of the zeppelin – travel by airship is making a big comeback.

Before the zeppelin travel disaster of the Hindenburg in which 36 people were lost when the giant airship crashed and exploded in New Jersey in 1937, people looked forward to a future of travel in these graceful, lightweight zeppelins. They were more fuel efficient than airplanes which were just beginning to offer transcontinental service thanks to Charles A. Lindbergh’s successful flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.

They were also much faster than steamships, the most popular mode of travel at the time, completing the journey in only forty three hours as opposed to almost a week on the sea. Because of their efficiency and new technology airships may be making a comeback, according to Smithsonian .

The Hindenburg was inflated with hydrogen, a highly flammable gas. As the ship came in to dock, an electrostatic discharge, a spark, ignited a leak of hydrogen. Dr. Julian David Hunt, along with his colleagues at the Energy and Water Programs at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, are conducting a study with the intent of proving that airships can lower CO2 emissions from shipping commercial goods by not only using hydrogen, a cleaner, renewable source of fuel, but by using the winds of the jet steam which are reliably west to east.

The team is conducting research on dynamics, new designs, different propulsion systems, solar power, wind turbine power, and a multitude of other methods to find a viable alternative to commercial aircraft and maritime shipping, according to ScienceDirect. Wind speeds were tracked for a year, and an ideal latitude was computed to be 36.5° with a round trip taking sixteen days in the northern hemisphere and −30.5° latitude with a round trip taking fourteen days for the southern hemisphere, considerably reducing the time it takes for maritime shipping.

There are several different types of airships. The Hindenburg was a rigid airship which had an internal frame with individual gas cells and a fabric covering. There are also semi-rigid ships which keep their shape mostly from internal gas but have a rigid keel for structural integrity.

The most commonly seen airships are the blimps, such as the Goodyear blimp, which rely totally on internal gas, usually helium, to keep their shape. Zeppelin, however, is a brand name and applies only to ships built by the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin of Germany, founded by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a German aristocrat and an officer in the army of Wurttemberg. Airships.net explains that zeppelins are usually rigid airships like the Hindenburg.

Goodyear blimps have flown over football stadiums and other sporting events for years with their brightly lit digital advertising and are a frequent sight among the residents of Akron, Ohio especially during homecoming season at Akron University.

They are being replaced by Zeppelins, the newest being the Wingfoot Three which is housed at the Wingfoot Lake Base in Suffield Township just outside of Akron. While the ships in Akron only provide rides under limited circumstances and as prizes for contests, the German site in Friedrichshafen, Germany offers extensive scenic flights according to company website, ZepplinNT.

The disaster of 1937 did not completely curtail the use of airships. Centennial of Flight reports that when the United States entered the second world war in 1942, Congress authorized construction of two hundred airships which the Navy used for search and rescue, minesweeping, anti submarine patrols, photographic reconnaissance, and escorting convoys and civilian ships.

Three million square miles were patrolled by airships including both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. They could spot enemy submarines long before the surface ships knew they were there and could stay in flight for sixty hours.

Related Article: The most successful zeppelin ever built operated commercially from 1928 to 1937

The U.S. Navy curtailed the use of airships in 1962 and considered reviving them in the 1980s, but in 1989 Congress stopped all funding. It appears now, however, that travel by zeppelin may be reemerging as a shipping solution to transport goods with less environmental impact. Time will tell.

ZEPPELIN SIGHTSEEING FLIGHTS OVER SOUTHERN GERMANY, AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND

The special experience at the bodensee.

Bodensee - one of the most popular vacation regions in southern Germany and home of the Zeppelin NT. The sightseeing flights always start at the Zeppelin hangar in Friedrichshafen. Choose between 12 different flight routes and enjoy the border triangle from a new perspective. Whether Austria, Switzerland or Upper Swabia - the views from the Zeppelin NT are always spectacular.

The engines whir quietly, majestically the Zeppelin NT lifts, quickly the cruising altitude of about 300 meters is reached. Unbuckle, walk around, look over the pilot's shoulder or enjoy the fantastic view from huge panoramic windows. The choice is yours, because the world is at your feet.

The low altitude leaves room to see details on the ground. Clear the stage for varied scenery: from the green Allgäu region to castles and palaces on the Bodensee or the typical architecture in the Vorarlberg region to colorful islands and unique views along the foothills of the Alps. 12 routes around the Bodensee and selected city trips within Germany will give you new perspectives.

A Zeppelin flight is the highlight of any vacation or weekend getaway and is guaranteed to be a very special experience.

The modern Zeppelin Airship is awakening in us a new conception of those great trans-ocean distances which we still associate with long sea voyages.

Now, we are realising that, just as the modern aeroplane can bridge the distances between the capitals of States in a few hours, so does the Zeppelin Airship reduce the time in transit over trans-ocean voyages from weeks to days.

The prophetic vision of Jules Verne has been realised. The new experience of a voyage across the ocean above the clouds can be added to others in this age of wonders.

To all our passengers, the safety, comfort, freedom from sickness, and tranquility in motion are a revelation, and these features no doubt are the reason for the increasing popularity of travel by Airship.  The one regret expressed by our passengers “” with which we are familiar “” is that the voyage is over so soon. The purpose of this little booklet is to give hints and information which will enable you to obtain the maximum enjoyment from a voyage by Airship.

WHERE AIRSHIP INFORMATION  CAN BE OBTAINED

There need be no difficulty in obtaining information with regard to sailing dates, times of departure and arrival, airports, ports of call en route, together with aeroplane and railway connections, particulars of fares, and all other details. All first-class travel agencies will be pleased to give you this information together with descriptive handbills and booklets issued by the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei. No obstacle need exist in the booking of a passage by airship. All established travel agents can book your passage for you. The important thing is to secure a cabin in advance. The number of your cabin will be allotted to you on the day of departure, and this is of no importance as all cabins are identical. Owing to the great demand for passages, we advise you to book your passage well in advance of the date in which you intend to travel. A berth can be reserved for you by the payment in advance of half the fare. The booking agent will give you a receipt, together with the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei’s Rules and Regulations. It is important to safeguard this receipt, as on completing payment it will be exchanged for the final passage contract. All passengers are required to fill in carefully the official questionnaire handed to them by the travel agent at the time of reserving their berths. We suggest that this is done before the day of departure, as a great deal of time will be saved in embarking. In the case of family parties it is sufficient if all members are included on the one questionnaire.

PREPARATIONS FOR TRAVEL

WITH REGARD TO BAGGAGE

Let us think of packing trunks!  Of course, we have to distinguish between small baggage, such as suit-cases, handbags, etc., and our heavy baggage, such as trunks. In our hand-baggage we carry certain necessaries and personal belongings, in our heavy baggage we pack away belongings which will not be required until we reach our new destination. Passengers will appreciate that certain restrictions with regard to the volume and weight of all baggage are in force for journeys by airship. The contract fare entitles the passenger to free transport of 286 lba of baggage, of which 66 lbs may be carried in the airship as personal baggage. Care should be taken that all usual articles required by the passenger for his daily use should be included in the personal baggage to be taken on board the airship.  Usually, an ordinary light suit-case is found sufficient for this.

Should the passenger wish to  take more than 66 lbs of personal baggage, the Company are obliged to charge for the extra weight.  Prices will be found in the printed tariff of baggage rates. The other heavy baggage will be  collected and forwarded to the passenger’s place of destination by fast mail steamer. This year, 1937, the rates for extra baggage carried on the airship have been reduced to RM 2.”” per  lb between Europe and North America, and RM 3.”” per lb between Europe and South America. The booking agent can make all arrangements for the passenger for the collection and forwarding of his baggage through any of the well-known agents.

WHAT IS WANTED ON BOARD?

Naturally, you yourself will decide on the things which you will consider as necessary for your everyday requirements. Nevertheless, perhaps you will allow us to give you some little advice from our past experience. You will find that you do not need any special dress, because life on board an airship is similar to staying in a large hotel or on board a passenger liner. Lady passengers are well aware that a dozen frocks or gowns will weigh scarcely more than one suit of clothes for a man. But the difference in climate at the port of departure and that of the port of arrival should not be forgotten, and, therefore, it is advisable at all times to take with you a light overcoat.

The modern central heating and ventilation system installed on board the airship renders the change of climate almost imperceptible. One hint to the men; a lot of time is spent in looking out of the window at passing ships and other scenes of interest below. Many will find a comfortable cap an advantage. The wearing of a dress-suit or dinner-jacket is, of course, quite optional. Nevertheless, we advise that one dark suit should be carried in the personal baggage for convenient and suitable evening wear. Passengers need not worry about writing materials. In the comfortable writing and reading room they will find a plentiful supply of note-paper, picture post-cards, and attractive souvenirs can be obtained from the saloon stewards.

THE MONEY PROBLEM MADE EASY

How to avoid difficulties with the German foreign currency regulations.

The fare charged for the passage covers ,,full board” and tips. But naturally, passengers will want to purchase little odds and ends, such as souvenirs of the ship, an occasional bottle of wine from the excellent “žcellar” on board, Eau de Cologne, chocolates, cigarettes or even a good Havana cigar.

Sometimes, a party of friends may wish to celebrate some special event with a bottle of champagne from the ship’s expertly chosen wine list. Often, a passenger may wish to send a telegram from mid-air, half-way across the ocean. All these facilities are at the passengers’ disposal. Passengers, of course, have their own individual tastes, and incur their various expenses accordingly. To facilitate the passenger’s convenience and to eliminate minor troubles, the Company have created a ,,Board Credit”, which permits of each passenger opening a personal “žCredit Account” for use on board ship, and in cases where the passenger intends to return by Airship after a short stay, may include a fixed sum in the currency of the country which you are visiting, sufficient to cover their daily expenses during their stay. The German currency regulations permit you to open a “žCredit Account” for any sum of money up to 30 Reich Marks per day, which experience has shown is ample to meet the needs of the average passenger. In fact, you will find when calculating your expenses, that you will need to be really extravagant to exceed this daily expenditure, bearing in mind that your full board and tips, while in the Airship, are already covered by the passage money.   Of course, your “žCredit Account”  must be estimated and purchased before going on board, preferably, at the time of booking your passage. Your booking agent or banker can do this for you without putting you to any inconvenience, but do not leave it too late.

HOW DOES ONE GET TO THE AIRSHIP?

The Frankfurter Hof Hotel is the Headquarters for Airship passengers arriving at the historic old town on the banks of the Main. A fleet of fast buses connects the Hotel with the Airport. Passengers who make the journey to Frankfurt from England may travel in the Continental Expresses leaving Victoria and Liverpool Street Stations where through connections will bring them to Frankfurt within twenty four hours. Hotel porters in uniform and representatives of the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei meet the principal trains on arrival prior to the Airship’s departure, so that no trouble will be experienced in reaching the Hotel or in the transportation of the Passengers’ luggage. To avoid any possibility of mistake, the passenger may write or wire to the Frankfurter Hof Hotel, advising the time of arrival in Frankfurt, when the train will be met without fail. For motorists, who prefer to make the journey by car, excellent garage accommodation is provided by the Frankfurter Hof Hotel. The quickest means of transit from England, however, is by the fast Cabin planes of the Deutsche Lufthansa Company which, from the month of May, leave Croydon Aerodrome direct for Frankfurt and land at the airport where the Airship will be found waiting to receive them. Likewise, at Rio de Janeiro, a special train conveys passengers to the Airport at Santa Cruz, from which the fast, best and quickest air-service to and from all the capitals of the South American Republics is in operation. In New York, the special planes of the American Air Lines convey passengers to the Lakehurst Airport within the half-hour.

THE VOYAGE BEGINS

Your ticket for the Zeppelin is handed to you, the passport and Customs formalities are quickly over, and from now on you can relax and become completely at your ease, for the staff of the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reedcrei think and act for you. Everything that can be done, is being and will be done, to make your stay on board the Airship as enjoyable as possible. You are conducted inside the hangar, there is the majestic Airship, you are dazzled by its immense size and the beauty of its silver grey form. A steward receives you and you are conducted on board up a comfortable gangway into the ship, completely protected from the weather. There is no discomfort or confusion such as one often meets with in boarding an ocean liner on a wet day. On entering the ship, you are requested to hand over your matches and automatic lighter, as smoking on board is confined to the smoking saloon, where all accessories for the smoker are at hand and where there are no restrictions. Here you will find a well-equipped bar for cocktails and other drinks, and plenty of good companionship. The existing air-navigation laws of most countries compel another request. This is not a very serious one. You arc asked to hand over your camera until the Airship has passed outside the three-mile limit. As soon as this is passed your camera will be returned to you and, of course, you are now free to start your collection of holiday snaps on board the airship, or to take pictures of passing ships and other sights in mid-ocean. Any jewelery and valuables may be handed to the chief steward for safe custody during the trip. At the beginning, it is hard to realise you are on board a Zeppelin; the comfort and protection from the weather, the spaciousness, the elegance and neat equipment, the well-appointed cabins, the courtesy and deference of the ship’s company who arc only too ready to help, awake in you a new conception of pleasurable travel. A new anticipation of excitement mingles with the atmosphere of farewell. You are conscious that in a few days, thousands of miles will be traversed and you will arrive in a new country. Instinctively you approach the large windows and become interested in the preparations for departure. There is no delay, you have felt no shock, no tremble or vibration, and yet you notice the ship is moving. The towering walls of the hangar glide by and at last you are out in the open. Slowly and carefully,  the  airship  swings into the wind, you hear words of command and occasionally a shrill whistle. You notice the groups of men at the tow ropes are moving back and then, while a farewell song is broadcast from the loud speakers, you see the earth getting more distant. It seems to drop quietly from beneath you. The ease and certainty of everything are incredible, for you have felt nothing. While you are still wondering, the earth beneath you commences to slip by and you realise that the voyage has commenced. You turn to a passing steward with an apprehensive enquiry,”Suppoaing one is sick? Is it dangerous to lean?”  “Please do not worry” is the reassuring answer. “People are never sick on board an Airship”.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

If you have any particular wish regarding seating arrangement at meals, the First Steward will do his best to accommodate you. Your survey of the Airship commences with a short inspection of the spacious Dining Saloon, Drawing room, and Reading and Writing Room; then down the wide companionway to the comfortably furnished Smoking Saloon. You murmur to yourself, “žHere one has the luxury of an ocean liner and yet within two and a half days we shall arrive in the United States”.

For the last eight years, the famous “žGraf Zeppelin” has carried passengers and has become a favourite ship on the South American route. There are passengers who still prefer the old “žGraf Zeppelin” to the more modern “žHindenburg”, but there is no doubt that passengers soon feel completely at home in both of these Airship, and a trip across the ocean in either of them is an experience the enjoyment of which one will never forget.

A FEW HINTS REGARDING LIFE ON BOARD

Those who are accustomed to steamship travel will soon find themselves at home in an Airship. There is something familiar in the printed passenger-list you receive, the passage contract is similar; and then, the life on board is subject to those rules and regulations such as are usual on a well-run steamship, and which make for order and safety. Everyone finds the ship’s officers ready to explain and to help in every way. The First Steward is always at hand with advice and general information. He knows ‘and understands the passengers’ wishes and difficulties through his long’ experience during years of service aboard ocean steamers and airships. The sounding of a gong is the signal that meals are ready, and that in the Dining Saloon the tastefully laid-out tables are waiting. Breakfast is served from 8 a. m. to 10 a. m., Mid-day dinner at noon; afternoon tea or coffee from 4 p. m. to 5 p. m., and then, as the healthy sea air will be sure to increase your appetite, sandwiches and fruit are served until late in the evening.

The large and varied assortment of foods which form the Menus, the variety of wines and other beverages, as well as the excellent cuisine and attentive service, vie with the best one is accustomed to find in first-class Hotels and Restaurants.

Outward, and homeward bound, passengers should alter their watches to agree with the ship’s clock which is put back or advanced each day in accordance with the time difference between the ship’s position and Greenwich. If this is realised, there will be no misunderstanding with regard to a seeming alteration in the hours of the meals.

Time on board passes quickly. There are many things to hold the passenger’s interest. The news bulletins are displayed on a board in the  reading room.   Each day, a small newspaper is printed in English and German giving the latest and most important news from all parts of the world. Games, such as cards, chess and draughts can be placed at your disposal by the steward. For those of a quiet or studious disposition, die reading and writing saloon will be popular. Letters can be posted on board the Airship, and at any time you may despatch wireless telegrams to friends or business relations in all parts of the world. Each day there is the excitement of the well-known “žsweepstake” on the ship’s run, and another popular feature is a conducted tour over the whole of the Airship.

All passengers must abide by three important regulations. These are: “” 1.    To throw nothing overboard, as by doing so you may cause damage to the Airship’s propellers or hull. 2.    Not to carry matches, automatic lighters, or to smoke in any part of the Airship, except the Smoking Saloon. 3.    Not to leave the passengers’ quarters except by permission and accompanied by a member of the ship’s company.

Throughout the night and day, the officers and crew of the Airship keep unceasing watch over the safety and welfare of both ship and passengers. The most modern fire extinguishing installations and other safety devices are a guarantee of absolute security. These well-thought out precautions are one of the main reasons why Airship travel has proved most reliable in the last few years, and are a justification of ha increasing popularity.

A DAY ON BOARD

What a wonderful night’s rest you have enjoyed after your first day on board! The soft murmur from the distant engines seems to have lulled you to sleep. Now the sunshine is streaming in through the windows and you take your place in the dining saloon for a breakfast of crisp appetizing rolls and aromatic coffee. Already, die free and easy companionship of ship-board travel is in evidence. The enjoyment of airship travel makes people sociable, friendships are being formed. You finish breakfast and walk to the windows. Down below, you see the long shadow of the airship passing swiftly over the sparkling foam-crested waves of the blue Atlantic, and the joy of experiencing this wonderful achievement in modern travel surges through you. No people are confined to their cabins, for as yet no passenger has ever been sea-sick on board a Zeppelin Airship. Even in storms and squally weather, the ship’s movements are quiet and steady except for die slight shock of the first onslaught. There is no noise beyond die distant murmur of die engines and the sigh of the wind on die outer hull. No dust, no soot to trouble you, the whole atmosphere is one of tranquility and peace. The air is delicious and fresh, in fact you seem to have been transported into another and more beautiful world. For a long time you are content to watch the marvelous cloud formations or the effect of the wind on the sea and waves beneath, and then perhaps you recline in a comfortable chair to read, join a parry in a game of bridge, or chat with some new and interesting friends. Occasionally someone will call from the windows, and you will join your fellow passenger in witnessing the passing of a great liner far beneath, her rails lined with waving passengers, or the inspiring spectacle of a man-of-war or destroyer flotilla.

Mid-day arrives as if by magic, and with it the welcome sound of the dinner gong. After dinner, smokers repair to the smoking saloon. Gradually and amidst many distractions and pleasant activities the evening advances, and the stars appear. If inclined, you take a shower bath before supper, and then a round of cocktails with some friends in the bar, followed by  supper, and  to  end  the day, a game of bridge. As you retire to your  cabin it seems a miracle that already you are nearer your destination  by over 1,000 miles.

A TOUR THROUGH THE AIRSHIP: Some of the secrets disclosed.

Your request to be conducted through the Airship never meets with refusal.  A time has been arranged and you meet your guide. Leaving the passengers’ quarters you are conducted along a small gangway which runs throughout the length of the ship. This is the keel gangway. On either Bide are numerous metal tanks and fabric receptacles containing the water, ballast and fuel. In addition, you are permitted to peep into the tent-like quarters of the crew. Above you are the immense gas-bags enclosed in the dainty network of duralumin frames, supports, counter-supports and tension wires forming the skeleton of the Airship. You wonder at the science and ingenuity which have contrived this marvel of lightness and  strength.

The cargo is stowed in a network of suspended platforms, and a great variety of cargo is carried.

Lateral gangways lead up to the motor gondolas outside the ship, which are attached to the hull by tension wires and compression arms. You pass the Wireless cabin, where the weather forecasts are received, and from which messages are dispatched to all parts of the world. Now you reach the Control and Navigation car in the front of the ship, which is equivalent to the Captain’s bridge on a steamer. From this car an uninterrupted view can be had on all sides. A mass of gauges, telegraphs and other apparatuses are cleverly grouped and situated so as not to impede the view. You watch the men on duty  and foel confident that you are in good hands.   You can scarcely hear the noise of the engines which are driving forward this “žFlying Town”. Many of the ship’s company have served under Graf Zeppelin, the creator of the modern airship.

The officers explain the controls which appear very complicated, and also introduce the passengers to some of the secrets of aerial navigation. They learn particulars about the steering of the ship, the different gauges and altimeters, and garner some ideas on the study of meteorology.

Perhaps you will be surprised at the quantities of fuel, water and stores consumed on a voyage across the ocean, but do not forget, the “žHindenburg” is carrying 70 passengers as well as a crew of 52 men.

Your admiration for this masterpiece of German patience, thoroughness and technique, will leave an impression which you will carry through life.

What is more, you will feel proud of having realised yourself the prophecy of Jules Verne, by crossing the ocean by the most modern means of rapid transport.

34 Leave a Reply

Thank you for giving us a site like this to pique our interests.

I was doing my research on airships, as I dream to fly/sail a traditional victorian airship across few seas and continents. Thanks a lot for your website and I am very happy that I have stumbled upon this site. I wonder if this would still be possible these days. I …  Read more »

If i am not horribly mistaken, it was not so much the hydrogen that contributed to the Hindenburg disaster as the paint on the skin of the airship. That paint formula was meant to be very durable and reflect sunlight off the airship: unfortunately, it turns out to be the …  Read more »

Sadly you ARE horribly mistaken; almost everything in your comment is inaccurate.

thank you dan for pointing out wagners horrific errors; like his whole statement!

I have been in love with the idea of airship travel since the late 1940’s when my mother told me about her trip to Germany on board the Hindenburg. No, she was not on board for the explosion … there were 10 round-trips between the U.S. and Germany before the …  Read more »

Gene; The dream of large passenger airships carrying revenue-producing patrons to destinations near and far is quite possible. The challenges are reinstating existing aged hangers to build the first prototype and operate it from while it made it’s debut to the world. Once the prototype has proven her capabilities, the …  Read more »

I rember when I was a little lad looking up from the garden and seeing a great silver zepelin silently passing over.we were living in south wales u.k.was it a dream?

What a treat to read this travel brochure! And what a great website! I’ve made a study of Zeppelins, which began in the mid-70’s, and I’ve accumulated several books on the subject over the years, and read every article I could lay my hands on. For whatever reasons, these great …  Read more »

Hi Ray. The reason why the American naval airships were lost had to do with the technology of the day concerning weather. If Adm. Moffett, Capt. Lansdowne and Comdr. Wiley had a modern I-phone on their person with all the information we can access today, they could see wind sheer, …  Read more »

You do realize that zeppelins were very inconvenient in those times and ONLY held 120 or so passengers with almost HALF of them CREW. As it itself says, they consumed an enormous amount of fuel and water and that kind of other stuff. I mean, all of that stuff had …  Read more »

it was no crash, as the zeppelin did not bump into anything it was merely an accident.

Huh, well, I do suppose it should be considered a “disaster” but it was practically the same thing. We could go on and on about the morals and yada yada but point of fact, people died in that fire, or were injured.

Zeppelins inconvienient??? At the time Pan Am was still in its infancy, fixed wing aircraft weren’t commercially viable and still couldn’t safely cross the Atlantic, even in favourable weather! Ships were slower and could take a week! Zeppelins (Graf & Hindenburg) made over 1000 commercial flights and regular routes from …  Read more »

Zeppelins were amazingly efficient in terms of fuel use. They could remain aloft for very long periods of time and set records for long distance travel. They could only carry the fuel that they could lift, nothing more. Even with that, the Graf crossed the Pacific ocean non-stop from Tokyo …  Read more »

This has been an amazing read. It is a tragedy this form of travel was so dangerous. That aside the luxury these ships offered seems to have been second to none.

Only the lifting gas used was dangerous and (at the time) the ship operators felt they could handle it safely. They were wrong.

Yes, who on Earth thought that they could control Hydrogen gas??? I mean, did you see how quickly the Hindenburg went down???

Hydrogen gas is used a lot in industrial applications and is not as dangerous as you think but it does need to be handled safely and with respect! If you speak with any gas manufacturer oxygen is considerably more dangerous. Rockets use oxygen as a fuel source and you dont …  Read more »

Hydrogen gas is not flammable when in a pure state. The gas cells in those days were the cutting edge for the Hindenburg and made with a latex-impregnated linen. It still leaked gas and in doing so, let air in at the bottom of the cell. Once mixed with air, …  Read more »

T HIS IS A VERY INTERESTING MODE OF TRAVEL, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE AIRSHIPS AS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO GREEDY AIRLINERS. I FOR ONE WOULD BE AS HAPPY AS A KID IN A CANDY STORE TO FLY TO THE CARIBBEAN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER..

I know right? I would love to travel in a Zeppelin although it is quite dangerous.

Zeppelin NT is very safe it uses Helium gas. This is inert, not flammable or explosive!

Flying in a seat perched over wings filled with kerosene at 500 knots in air that’s 40 degrees below zero in a thin skin of aluminum that a pin prick will rupture the pressure integrity any safer? No thanks, I’ll take the slower, lower airship any day. How can you …  Read more »

Hey Dan, you have put together a really great and interesting site! Thanks! Question… How much was the cost of a transatlantic passenger on a Zeppelin? (My apologies if you have it on the site already – I haven’t found it.)

One way passage between Europe and America via Hindenburg cost $400 in 1936 and $450 in 1937. (You can find more information about transatlantic fares at https://www.airships.net/hindenburg .)

Thanks for the kind comments!

That means now (from Dan’s comment) that the one way would now be about $8000 one way! Or maybe $15000 round trip, when the aircraft flights to Germany are between $1000-1400 depending one the season. So it’s an order of magnitude more expensive. Would you pay $15000 to fly by …  Read more »

It’s hard to convert past amounts to present value (it’s a much more complicated calculation than people often imagine) but the figures you quote are generally in line with first class airfares today.

Z(s)eppelin - Az utazás kultúrája

Főoldali lapozóképek, dél-korea varázsa és kultúrája, tiroli kincsesláda, plitvicei nemzeti park, velence - padova és treviso, london -tower, stonehenge és salisbury. hajóval a temzén, benelux nagykörutazás, orchideák kavalkádja szlovéniában, zakopane és bártfa - dunajeci tutajozással, idegenvezetők ajánlásával, a vezúvtól az amalfi partokig.

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Délvidéki körutazás a magyar emlékek nyomában, varázslatos szlovénia csillagtúrákkal, ausztria rejtett kincsei - hajózással, vendégségben az esterházyaknál, isztambul, a boszporusz metropolisza - repülővel, tavaszköszöntő zakopánéban és bártfán, london - gazdagon, olaszországi nagykörutazás, május 1. - hosszú hétvége, tiroli kincsesláda - tele meglepetésekkel, a salzkammerguti tavaktól a königssee-ig, benelux nagykörutazás - tavasszal tulipánvirágzáskor, szlovákia-a felvidék történelmi városai, pünkösd - hosszú hétvége, tengerparti pihenés, albánia körutazás - tengerparti pihenéssel, kirándulásokkal, bosznia felfedezése, tengerparti pihenéssel, bulgária körutazás - fürdőzéssel, hosszú csobbanás a horvát adrián, mediterrán isztria - 4 napos, mediterrán isztria - 5 napos, görögországi nyaralás - tartalmas pihenés az olimposzi riviérán, nagy török körutazás - üdüléssel, thaiföld és kambodzsa - angkor misztikus varázsa, 30 éves z(s)eppelin ünnepeljen velünk, tavaszköszöntő krakkó - wieliczka - zakopane, toszkána, viareggio és cinque terre, dubai és az egyesült arab emirátusok luxus élményekkel, tavaszköszöntő rómában - repülővel, róma - velencével és firenzével - autóbusszal, virágzó programok, szlovéniai körutazás tulipánvirágzáskor, orchideák kavalkádja szlovéniában, nárcisz ünnep bad aussee-ben, tavaszköszöntő ausztriában, európai nagykörutak, észak-spanyolországtól baszkföldön át portugáliába, észak gyöngyszemei: skandinávia, hajózás az északi- tengeren, izland nagykörutazás - a gejzírek földje, norvégia, a fjordok országa, dél-olaszországi kalandozások: a féltve őrzött puglia, dél-olaszországi kalandozások: a féltve őrzött puglia - repülővel, dél-anglia nagykörutazás, kiscsoportos programok, velence - padova - treviso, törzsutasaink kedvencei, andalúzia - üdülés csillagtúrákkal, pihenéssel, észak-olaszországi tóvidék, svájc nagykörutazás - a svájci alpok legszebb útjain, svájc ikonikus hegyei között utazunk, egzotikus programok, dél-korea varázsa és fiatalos kultúrája, kuala lumpur - szingapúr - borneo - hongkong és makaó, tenerife: az örök tavasz szigete, lappföld, az északi-fok nyáron, online katalógusunk, tavaszköszöntő londonban, díjaink, elismeréseink.

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Find out about the ‘giant of the skies’!

Have you ever seen an airship? Long before jet aeroplanes were invented, airships were the best way to travel long distances in style. They were faster than ocean liners and could cover long distances without landing.

The most famous airships in the world were made by the Zeppelin company, based in Friedrichshafen, in southern Germany.

Did you know …?

• Airships are shaped like giant cigars. Their shape helps them move through the air much faster than a round balloon.
• In 1929, a German Zeppelin airship travelled around the world.
• The  Graf Zeppelin  airship was almost 237 metres long. That’s longer than 23 buses in a row!
• On one famous flight across the Atlantic, a 19 year old stowaway was found on board. Instead of being angry at him, the Zeppelin captain set him to work peeling potatoes in the kitchen.
• The food on board the Zeppelins was very good. It had to be because tickets were very expensive.
• A flight from America to Germany and back in 1928 cost around $3,000. That’s over £25,000 in today’s money!
• Zeppelins were used to deliver airmail. Several countries had special Zeppelin stamps.
• Modern Zeppelins are being produced today!

Words Ahoy! · Wörter Ahoi!

www.zeppelin-museum.de

Find out more about Zeppelins on the Zeppelin Museum’s website.

www.zeppelinflug.de

Look at these pictures of Germany from the air taken from a modern Zeppelin.

Other pages like this:

Memory game: Transport

Die Schwebebahn

Why Zeppelins Are on the Rise Again

A world in a hurry turns to a lumbering early 20th-century technology for a lesson in efficiency

April White

Author,  The Divorce Colony: How Women Revolutionized Marriage and Found Freedom on the American Frontier

In the 1930s, before commercial airplanes began crossing the Atlantic, zeppelins promised to change how we traveled. They could make the voyage in just 43 hours, while the fastest ocean liner took five days. But when the Hindenburg plummeted from the New Jersey sky in 1937, killing 36 people, the disaster also ended the dream that hydrogen-filled airships would be the future of transportation.

Now scientists and others are starting to look at zeppelins as something more than hovering billboards like the Goodyear Blimp. The reason is a benefit that went unrecognized a century ago: Airships can be more fuel efficient than cargo ships and airplanes.

Most modern airships use helium, a nonflammable but expensive and rare gas. But technological advances have lessened the explosive danger associated with hydrogen, which is endlessly abundant. So the military, space agencies and others are stepping up research on hydrogen-filled airships. And cargo transport could be speedy as well as efficient. A new study in the journal Energy Conversion and Management found that an airship five times the length of the Empire State Building riding the jet stream could circle the globe in 14 days—faster than any oceangoing ship.

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April White | READ MORE

April White is currently a senior editor at Atlas Obscura,  and formerly was a senior editor for Smithsonian magazine.

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Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen

Boasting over 1,500 original exhibits and historical photographs, videos and audio recordings, the exhibition at the Zeppelin Museum brings the history of airship travel to life with the help of multimedia installations.

The Zeppelin Museum is located in the former harbour train station on the banks of Lake Constance. Many different aspects of airship travel are covered across the exhibition space of 4,000 square metres, which is home to no end of special displays. The permanent exhibition clearly demonstrates the process of flying in line with the "lighter than air" principle and gives visitors the chance to feel what it's like at experimentation stations. The successful past of the Zeppelin Group is touched upon too. For example, visitors are told how the technical innovations came about back in the day and how the Zeppelin gained a cult following.

The highlight of the museum has to be the partial reconstruction of the Hindenburg Zeppelin. Visitors can enter the recreated passenger areas of the LZ 129 and get a feel for what it would have been like to travel on board this luxury liner in the sky. Another special attraction at the Zeppelin Museum is the large art collection in the former harbour train station, which reflects the work of the major players from the south of Germany between the Middle Ages and modern times. Opening times: May to October: Every day 9 am–5 pm, November to April: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am–5 pm

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Capital of culture berlin: from museums to street art, heal naturally: kneipp, felke and schroth cures, 12 spots for unforgettable photos, paths to happiness - holiday routes, love around germany, sustainable certified cycletravelregions, explore the surroundings.

Publication  Number:  ISSN 2515-611X

Publication Number:  ISSN 2515-611X

Float in a Zeppelin Where Air Travel Began: Friedrichshafen, Germany

“Float in a Zeppelin Above The City Where Air Travel Began: Friedrichshafen, South Germany”

There was no taxiing. No waiting for a slot. No engine roar. No ear-popping. There was not even a runway. Our Zeppelin simply floated up into the sky above Friedrichshafen and Lake Constance in South Germany until we reached our cruising altitude of 350 metres.

The History  The Flight The Museum The Takeway

Once, this was the only way to fly. The ultimate high life and only the very rich could afford to travel the world in the belly of the leviathan. But on a recent trip in a Zeppelin, I could not only see four countries from my elevated position, I could also feel the past and the future of air travel as I drifted with the clouds.

The History

Count Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich von Zeppelin , a cavalry general and diplomat, born in Konstanz in 1838, first flew a Zeppelin in 1900 from pontoons moored off the Bay of Manzell on Lake Constance. This was three years before the famous Wright brothers flew their heavier-than-air plane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Two hundred locals had to hold the aircraft down before take-off and then pull it in on landing, to anchor it.

Having first seen balloons during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War, von Zeppelin bought a design off Croatian inventor David Schwarz and patented it as “a steerable all-cruising train”.

The first lighter-than-air flight lasted eighteen minutes, before being curtailed by “technical difficulties”. The cloth-covered prototype was 128 metres long and powered by Daimler engines.

One hundred and seventeen airships or “dirigibles” eventually came off the production line. The first airships were used for surveillance and bombing raids during the World War I, and Friedrichshafen became the cradle of German industrial history.

In 1928, the hydrogen-fueled airship Graf Zeppelin carried twenty paying passengers on the first trans-Atlantic flight.

A year later, with a crew of thirty-six looking after nine passengers, Graf Zeppelin completed a deluxe 12-day, 30,831-mile world tour via New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo. It was the press baron William Randolph Hearst who organized the junket at roughly £28,000 per person. He also paid the modern equivalent  of $2 million for the media rights.

Before being retired in 1937, the Graf Zeppelin completed 590 flights, including a polar expedition and two trips to the Middle East.

View from Zeppelin Over Harbour

Her successor, the ill-fated Hindenburg airship, was no less luxurious, with incomparable facilities. She became the flagship for the opulent “New Germany”.  A return ticket between Frankfurt and Lakehurst, New Jersey on the 242 ton airship, which carried seven million cubic feet of hydrogen, cost $720, with single occupancy of one of her two-berth cabins an extra $1000. Westbound flights took sixty-four hours. Eastbound, fifty-two.

At 245-metres, the earliest airships were longer than three 747s put end-to-end.

The Zeppelin NT finally took to the skies on its maiden flight from Friedrichshafen on September 10, 1997.  In 2001, commercial flight operations began in Friedrichshafen.

Von Zeppelin, the man who invented commercial air travel, died more than one hundred years ago. A statue of him stands beside Lake Constance as a reminder of where it began.

Now, between April and November, you too can fly in a modern, helium-lifted Zeppelin that takes off in the place where commercial travel all began—Friedrichshafen, Germany, on the scenic shores of Lake Constance.

Flights are between thirty minutes and two hours, and www.zeppelinflug.de has twelve scenic routes that fly close enough to the ground to make out details of sights such as the Rhine Falls of Schafhausen , Europe’s largest waterfall, and the garden island of Mainau .

We drifted us over Hagnau, Meersburg and  Kreuzbergen. Then to Konstanz and the Rhine inlet.

During my flight, we silently lapped Germany’s largest  lake, Lake Constance, at a speed of  35 knots or 65 kilometres per hour, burning 90 litres of gas in the process. Below we could see the Pfander cablecar at Bregenz, the old Lighthouse and Gunpowder Tour of Lindau , a charming Bavarian town on an island in the lake.

There are now Zeppelin airfields in Bonn, Munich, Moechengladbach, Bad-Homburg and Essen/Mulhein too.

The 14-passenger Zeppelin LZ NO7-101 is 75 metres long and 19.5 metres wide. It can fly for twenty-two hours.The Zeppelin takes off with a static gravity of about 350 kg, so it’s actually heavier than air.

Explained our pilot , “The Zeppelin NT maintains its outer shape with the help of an internal structure, which is like a framework of beams and struts, and the overpressure of the non-flammable helium.”

“The semi-rigid structure of the Zeppelin consists of three longerons made of an aluminum framework and triangular struts made of carbon fiber. The envelope material is fastened to the longerons and is made of a high-strength multilayer laminate. The engines are also mounted on to the internal framework and are far from the gondola. The internal structure of the Zeppelin allows the engines to be attached  at a location where they can operate most efficiently”.

With its three swiveling engines, our Zeppelin operates like a helicopter and only needs a ground crew of three. The giant airship moved silently over the landscape of the “Swabian Sea” (as Lake Constance is called at times), gliding over orchards, hop fields, castles, convents,  marshlands, fishing and sailing boats, windsurfers, and the monastic island and UNESCO World Heritage site of Reichenau.

We came down as gently as we had gone up. There was no holding pattern. No screeching of brakes. No bumps.

Views from our Zeppelin 

Once back on the ground, your air travel experience doesn’t need to end.

In the Zeppelin city of Friedrichshafen, the second largest city on the Bodensee, it makes sense you’d find the worthwhile Zeppelin Museum , idyllically set against Lake Constance, where you can discover two collections. The first is the world’s largest collection on airships and the innovation of “lighter than air” travel, including a  reconstruction of the infamous LZ129 Hindenburg, named after the Prime Minister, Paul von Hindenburg.

Museum visitors can walk through this replica and see what passengers experienced aboard the original airship, which made 18 round-trip flights before meeting its deadly demise while landing in Lakehurst, New Jersey in 1937.

Altogether, nearly six hundred commercial Zeppelin flights were made covering 1.7 million miles. Some artefacts from these momentous events in civil aviation history can be seen at the museum. You can also see  blueprints, engine parts, original ticket stubs, commemorative coins and stamps, posters, menus, cutlery and crockery used on the VIP flights.

The Zeppelin Museum also houses an impressive art collection, with close to 4000 works of art from significant artists of the region, spanning medieval to modern times.

Meanwhile, the airplane hanger turned Dornier Museum brings 100 exciting years of air and space travel to life, with exhibits that include 12 original aircraft, seven full-scale aerospace exhibits, and two full-scale aircraft replicas: the Dornier Merkur and Dornier Wal.

From Friedrichshafen you can also explore the lakeside towns of Uberlingen, Langenargen with its Moorish Montfort Castle , Wasserburg, and Bad Schachen.

The Zeppelin Cockpit

The Takeway

The last Zeppelin airship produced in Friedrichshafen was the Graf Zeppelin 11,  which entered service in 1938. After the Hindenberg disaster, Zeppelins stopped flying. As of today, fifteen thousand people have gone up in the Zeppelins over the last five years, and giant airships may be on the cusp of a comeback as an eco-friendly means of shipping goods around the globe.

For now though, head to Friedrichshafen and www.zeppelinflug.de for a nostalgic flight into the past and look toward the future.

BeSeeingYou In:  Lake Constance, Germany

Good to know: Skip August if you want to avoid the crowds, but arrive between May and October for the best Zeppelin flying weather

WOW! Factor: Lake Constance borders four countries— Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein and Austria—which means you can experience four cultures in one stay

Tip: The White Fleet connects the small shoreline towns and attractions around the lake

Author bio:   Kevin Pilley

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On Historic Routes

Home » Blog » Transatlantic Zeppelin Flights – An Early Air Service

Transatlantic Zeppelin Flights – An Early Air Service

Would you travel with a huge balloon-type vehicle filled with explosive gas across the ocean?

The 1930s saw a brief period when airships had a technological edge over planes and transatlantic Zeppelin flights made an early service across the ocean possible.

German airships are generally known as Zeppelins after Count von Zeppelin , the German airship pioneer. He started the world’s first airline in 1909 already using airships.

Persisting in improving their despite the success of aircrafts, German Zeppelins grew bigger and more reliable after the First World War.

The LZ127 Graf Zeppelin named after Count von Zeppelin launched in 1928 was the most successful airship of all times.

It completed a circumvention of the world in 1929 and a trip to the North Pole in 1931 among other flights.

Building on the long-range capabilities of LZ127, regular transatlantic Zeppelin flights were established in 1931.

Flights to the USA were offered, but here regular steamer connections were a considerable competition for the Zeppelins. Both made the crossing in about 4 days.

Transatlantic Zeppelin Flights to Brazil

Steamer connections to Brazil were not that fast. Here, the transatlantic Zeppelin flights offered extra value. Mail and passengers could travel from Germany to Brazil in a few days.

LZ127 made 136 crossings of the South Atlantic without accident. The ship had an impressive length of 236 m and a crew of about 40 people. It could however only carry about 25 passengers making it a very expensive, high-end service.

In 1936, a second Zeppelin entered service for transatlantic flights: LZ129 known as the Hindenburg . It was even larger with about 250 m length an had an increased passenger capacity of over 50.

Hydrogen or Helium?

In order to make an airship fly, you need a lighter-than-air gas. There are basically two choices available: Hydrogen and Helium.

While Hydrogen is lighter and easier to obtain, it is explosive. Helium on the contrary is safe to use but scarce. In the 1930s it was only available in the USA as a byproduct of natural gas production.

The risks of using hydrogen for airships were known and several ships caught fire throughout the world over the years.

The Hindenburg therefore was planned to use Helium to eliminate the obvious risk. In 1936 however, the USA had established a trade embargo against Nazi Germany for Helium and Hindenburg was launched with Hydrogen as Graf Zeppelin and many other airships before.

The End of Airship Services

Hindenburg made 17 transatlantic flights before it exploded at its destination at Lakehurst near New York on 6. May 1937. 36 people died in this first airship accident with casualties since World War I.

Early radio and film coverage made the accident a lively and emotional experience and people started asking themselves if it is a good idea to travel with a huge balloon-type vehicle filled with explosive gas across the ocean.

This was the end for transatlantic Zeppelin flights and commercial airship operations overall.

Few years later, planes had reached a long range capability that they could offer transatlantic passenger services and compete successfully with steamers.

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Return of the Zeppelin – the Greener (and Slower) Way to Travel

20 October, 2015

It might take 30 hours from London to New York, but this could be the new age of green travel.

E asyJet EasyJet and eco-friendly flying: two terms that usually sit in opposing camps now have an unusual bond. No, the budget airline hasn’t revealed any new plans to reduce its carbon footprint, but as of December it will be flying to petite German town Friedrichshafen, and therein may lie the key to greener air travel.

If you’ve not heard of Friedrichshafen, don’t worry. It’s no Berlin. But what it can hold claim to is being the birthplace of the Zeppelin, the iconic – and behemoth – airship.

If you’re having a hard time putting a name to a face, Zeppelins are those giant floating ships you see in old films and cartoons. A balloon filled with hydrogen allows the ship, which includes a passenger area, to float much like a hot air balloon. Symbolic of the Golden Age of flying, the Zeppelin ships of the 1900s were the reserve of the wealthy; passengers could rest in their sleeping cabins, take lunch in the dining room and even tinkle the ivories on the grand piano.

During World War II, however, they were used as military airships, and afterwards there was little interest in developing them. And of course, there was the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, when a German Zeppelin caught fire while attempting to dock, resulting in 26 fatalities. Before long, the Zeppelin dream was over.

Until 1998.

“The Zeppelin is part of our history. Part of our heritage,” explains Thomas Brandt, CEO of Zeppelin NT. “So 20 years ago we said, ‘There are new technologies out there, new materials and new possibilities, let’s try to do it again’.”

The Zeppelin NT (new technology) started its commercial flights in 2001. Visitors today can fly – or float – 1,000ft above Lake Constance and its surroundings – including Munich – on trips lasting from 30 minutes to two hours.

More than just a novel relic of time gone by, however, what makes the Zeppelin special is how eco-friendly it is. While a regular aircraft uses fuel to propel it upwards and forwards, the Zeppelin’s hull is full of gas (hydrogen, instead of the highly flammable helium used in the past),which is lighter than air and allows the ship to float. Fuel is therefore only needed to propel the ship forward. These airships are estimated to generate just a tenth of the CO emissions of a commercial aircraft, and as it flies at lower altitudes, the emissions are also less harmful.

It has other uses, too; recently the airship was converted into a flying laboratory to study climate control for the European Community, measuring air chemistry from Italy to Finland. “The data we collected was much better then any other because the Zeppelin can stand in the air, unlike a plane, and is almost vibration free, unlike a helicopter,” says Brandt.

Looking ahead, a report by Thomson Holidays suggested that by 2030 these kind of airships could be transformed into ‘zero impact’ floating resorts, complete with apartments, bars and restaurants. The current Zeppelins, however, only carry 15 passengers. When will we see ships big enough to carry more than 100 people, just as they did last century?

“Technically it’s no issue…but does somebody want to put up the funds and resources for a long-term building project?” says Brandt, adding that if the Zeppelin was ever to go one step further and compete with regular flights, there’d need to be some serious paradigm shifts in our approach to holidays (London to New York would take an estimated 30 hours).

So, the industry and the inclination is there, but the money, and perhaps public mentality, isn’t quite. With climate change posing the threat of global catastrophe, let’s hope Zeppelin flights really do take off soon.

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• © 2012–2024 SUITCASE Magazine, All rights reserved.

There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

To view items in this collection, use the Online Finding Aid

The German Commercial Zeppelins Collection documents German commercial Zeppelin travel during the 1930s.

The Zeppelin Company, founded in 1908 in Germany by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, was a pioneer company renowned for its airships and transoceanic commercial air service. Ferdinand von Zeppelin had been experimenting with rigid airships since the late 1800s and the Zeppelin LZ 1 made its first flight in 1900. Further models followed until the LZ 4 was introduced in 1908. The LZ 4 crashed during a test flight which led to an outpouring of support and monetary donations from the public and made possible the founding of the Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH). Beginning in 1909, Zeppelin airships were used for passenger transport by the Deutsche Luftschiffahrts Aktiengesellschaft (DELAG). In 1934 Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels offered two million marks of his ministry's funds for the Zeppelin Company. This infusion of money led to the virtual takeover of the company by the state. The new company, Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei, was formed 22 March 1935 with Air Ministry General Field Marshall Herman Goering the president of the company

NASM.XXXX.0252

bulk 1928-1938

1.74 Cubic feet ((6 boxes))

National Air and Space Museum Archives

This collection highlights German commercial Zeppelin travel during the 1930s, and includes the following: a history of flights; route maps; photographs, including interior shots of the accommodations and fittings of the LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin;" a schedule of sailings and fares; a description of the four medals struck to honor the LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin;" magazine and newspaper articles, including an account of the explosion of the LZ 129 "Hindenburg" in 1938; and the 1933 book, Zeppelin-Weltfahrten. Note: The digital images in this finding aid were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping and orientation in addition to color variations resulting from damage to and deterioration of the original objects.

The German Commercial Zeppelins Collection is arranged by content type.

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

No restrictions on access.

German Commercial Zeppelins, Accession XXXX-0252r, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Zeppelin LZ 129 Hindenburg

Aeronautics, Commercial

Zeppelin LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

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How To Get To The Sunken Temple In WoW: Season Of Discovery

Quick links, where to find the sunken temple, how horde characters reach the temple, how alliance characters reach the temple, entering the sunken temple raid.

A remnant of the ancient Gurubashi Empire's civil war, the Temple of Atal'Hakkar, is an iconic dungeon of Azeroth that has been reworked as a leveling raid for World of Warcraft: Classic's Season of Discovery .

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After learning of the looming threat of the Loa of Blood entering into Azeroth, the Green Dragonflight took action and sent the temple into the depths of the swamp, and assigned their own sentries to monitor it and its inhabitants. However, the Atal'ai were not destroyed, and they now threaten the world again, this time with the corrupted stewards who once opposed them.

After being exiled from the Gurubashi Empire's capital of Zul'Gurub long ago, the followers of the dark loa Hakkar the Soulflayer relocated to the Swamp of Sorrows in the southwestern reaches of the Eastern Kingdoms .

Bordered by the Blasted Lands to the south, Deadwind Pass to the west, Redridge Mountains to the north, and the Forbidding Sea to the east, the Swamp of Sorrows is a murky valley, and the place where the Horde and Alliance first clashed. Thus, despite being a remote zone, it is one with a long and bloody history.

The sunken Temple of Atal'Hakkar itself sits in the Pool of Tears at the eastern end of the Swamp of Sorrows . Despite being mostly submerged, the tallest parts of the structure peek out of the stagnant waters, forming a staging point for adventurers to begin their raid on the temple.

The closest Horde settlement to the Temple of Atal'Hakkar is the orcish outpost of Stonard within the Swamp of Sorrows.

As the only intact remnant of the Old Horde's holdings from the First War, it has been reestablished as the main hub of Horde power and refuge in this area of the world, and serves as the perfect base for Horde adventurers to strike out against the Atal'ai from.

This is the ultimate place to reach if you wish to have access to the Sunken Temple on your Horde characters .

Starting From Grom'Gol Base Camp

Prior to the Cataclysm, the only reliable land route into the Swamp of Sorrows was through the barren Deadwind Pass . Due to this, the easiest way to begin your journey to the Sunken Temple with a Horde character is to start from Grom'Gol Base Camp on the shores of Stranglethorn Vale .

Situated near the northern border of this jungle, it is the closest Horde flight post to Deadwind Pass on this side of the continent.

If you are venturing to the Swamp of Sorrows from Kalimdor, Grom'Gol hosts a zeppelin tower where a zeppelin from Orgrimmar docks. This tower also services a zeppelin from the Undercity of Tirisfal Glades, providing free and quick transport between the northern and southern ends of the Eastern Kingdoms for Horde citizens.

Additionally, if you have discovered Grom'Gol's flight point , Thysta, the town's flight master, will greet you when you land from wherever on the continent you flew in from.

From Stranglethorn Vale To Duskwood

Once you land at Grom'Gol Base Camp, you want to leave through its east or north gates. You can either trek through the jungle or follow the road, but you must head north to the pass to Duskwood .

When you get to the northern end of Stranglethorn Vale's road, take a right , as that road will lead into Duskwood.

Don't make a left at the end of the road, as that will lead into the Alliance's Rebel Camp outpost.

Through Duskwood

Upon entering Duskwood, follow the road north until it forks, and take a right , heading east. Keep following the road until you see a town up ahead, as that is Darkshire, and it is a major Alliance settlement.

Instead of following the road through the town, push through the underbush and rocky landscape northeast so you can avoid the town . Eventually, you will find yourself on another road, and you must follow it further east toward Deadwind Pass.

As Duskwood is Alliance territory belonging to the human kingdom of Stormwind, be careful of both enemy players and NPC guards.

Through Deadwind Pass

Now, you should be within the treacherous peaks and canyons of Deadwind Pass . Luckily, you will be here only for a short time, as you must follow the road east . You will cross a natural stone bridge, and on the other side, the road will continue into the Swamp of Sorrows.

When exiting Deadwind Pass, you will descend a slightly winding road that brings you into the humid muck of the Swamp of Sorrows. Here, it is simple enough to follow this road east until you reach Splinterspear Junction . At this Horde watchtower, the road splits in two, with one path leading north, and the other south. Take the south one and continue east to Stonard .

When you reach Stonard, remember to discover its flight point from the flight master in the middle of town ; Breyk. From here, you can find fellow adventurers to head farther east into the swamp with, and enter the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.

While the Alliance had yet to establish any settlements within the Swamp of Sorrows prior to the Cataclysm, they maintain their fortress in the nearby Blasted Lands .

Established at the end of the First War, Nethergarde Keep was built to keep watch on the closed Dark Portal, acting as a sentinel of the Kingdom of Stormwind should it open once more and the Horde spill out. Manned by humans, gnomes, and dwarves alike, Nethergarde Keep is the ultimate destination to reach if you want reliable and convenient access to the Temple of Atal'Hakkar on your Alliance characters.

Starting From Darkshire

As the Blasted Lands is only accessed through a break in the mountains in southern Swamp of Sorrows , Alliance characters need to start their journeys in Darkshire.

Located in the northeast corner of Duskwood, this gloomy human town is not only Stormwind's closest settlement to the southeastern reaches of the Eastern Kingdoms, it is also the Alliance's nearest flight point to the Swamp of Sorrows and the Blasted Lands.

If you have discovered the Darkshire flight point , the town's flight master, Felicia Maline, will welcome you upon your arrival.

If you haven't been to Darkshire before, it is just a short run or ride south from Stormwind City, through Elwynn Forest and across the Nazferiti River. Once here, you can begin your journey to the Sunken Temple.

From Duskwood To Deadwind Pass

From Darkshire, you will need to leave the town by way of its eastern road , heading into the mountains and Deadwind Pass.

Upon entering the bleak landscape of Deadwind Pass, you simply need to follow the road east . It will take you across a natural stone bridge, and then into the Swamp of Sorrows.

Through The Swamp Of Sorrows

When you descend into the murky vale that is the Swamp of Sorrows, follow the road east until you near Splinterspear Junction . Don't get too close to this orcish watchtower, as many Horde NPCs mill about it.

Instead, the most direct way to continue is through the bogs south of the junction, which will allow you to avoid the watchtower and rejoin the road that heads east . Eventually, this road will split, and you must take the branch that leads south into the Blasted Lands.

Don't continue east on the southern road past the point where it splits, as it will lead you straight into the Horde town of Stonard.

To Nethergarde Keep

This road will lead through a break in the mountains, and into the desolate realm of the Blasted Lands. Now in the homestretch of your sojourn, the quickest and safest path to Nethergarde Keep is to leave the road and head east .

Once you are directly south of the mountains, ascend a small hill and pass the mines staffed by human miners. You should see Nethergarde Keep directly ahead of you.

Upon entering Nethergarde Keep, remember to discover the fortress' flight point, which is slightly hidden in the southeast corner of it. The flight master is named Alexandra Constantine, and she resides atop a small wooden tower in that corner.

Now, you can find fellow adventurers to depart back into the Swamp of Sorrows with, on your quest to raid the Sunken Temple.

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Once you have reliable access to your faction's nearby settlements in the Swamp of Sorrows or Blasted Lands, you can group up with other players and trek to the Temple of Atal'Hakkar raid itself.

With the instance's entrance located deep within the tunnels of the Sunken Temple's overworld structure , you and your raid group need to traverse the labyrinthine corridors to find it.

There will be many elite mobs wandering these halls, so stay close to your group, so you can all benefit from safety in numbers. Additionally, if you play on a PVP server, be ready for a brawl if any enemy players start anything.

The Descent Into The Sunken Temple

When you and your companions reach the temple in the middle of the Pool of Tears , you will find the entrance to its depths atop its pinnacle. Descend the stairs of this ruined sanctum to access the passage to the raid's entrance.

The Broken Hall

At the bottom of the initial stairwell into the temple's depths, lies The Broken Hall. It may look like a dead-end as it is completely flooded, but don't be fooled. Simply dive into the water and swim forward , and you will reach an underwater passage into the next passageway.

The Hall Of Masks

Beyond The Broken Hall lies a small room with a stairwell on the right side, leading down into the next chamber. Said chamber is the Hall of Masks , which acts as a nexus for these sunken corridors. Upon entering this hall, you will see an exit in the middle of the right wall. Go to this exit and take the passage to your left .

The Den Of The Caller

This passage will take you past The Butchery , and around a sharp right turn into the Den of the Caller . When you enter this room, you will see another hallway straight ahead of you, but don't enter it. Instead, sharply turn to your left and enter that hallway . This will wind into the homestretch of your delve into the temple's depths.

The Hall Of Ritual

The next passage is the Hall of Ritual. This corridor, lined with troll faces carved out of stone, leads to the final chamber before the Sunken Temple's raid entrance. This straight hall leads into a smaller corridor with turns left to that final room .

The Hall Of Bones

Finally, you will have arrived in the Hall of Bones, where the stairway into the instance entrance portal can be found .

When you enter this chamber, take a sharp right down a small flight of stairs . Then, at the bottom of the stairs, turn left and walk to the far side of the chamber . You will see an ornate exit in that far wall, and therein lies the instance portal at the bottom of another set of stairs.

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