In July 1900, designed by Ferdinand von Zeppelin and manufactured by the German Social Aviation Promotion Company (created by Zeppelin himself), the world’s first rigid airship LZ-1 carried five crew members from the floating plane on Lake Constance The library takes off. Although
LZ-1 had many failures during the 17-minute voyage, the test task was finally completed. In the next few years, Zeppelin continued to improve the construction technology of rigid airships, and successfully tested a series of LZ airships.
In July 1900, LZ-1 was docked in the floating hangar on Lake Constance. The successful test flight of the
LZ series of airships marked that the airship, the first mankind's controllable flight aircraft, entered a new stage of development. Rigid airships with similar structures built by similar methods are generally collectively referred to as "Zeppelins."
On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers and their airplane
, on December 17, 1903, three and a half years later, the Wright brothers completed the first controlled continuous flight test of a fixed-wing aircraft. In the modern sky at the beginning of the 20th century, two rivals on the same platform were ushered in: rigid airship and fixed-wing aircraft.
In 1915, the outbreak of the German Zeppelin
over Brussels provided an excellent stage for performances for airships and aircraft. In the early days of World War I, a large number of Zeppelins equipped by the German army played an important role in long-range high-altitude bombing and reconnaissance missions. At this time, the development of fixed-wing aircraft was very slow.
The Fokker E.III monoplane of the Luftwaffe in 1916
On July 1, 1915, the Luftwaffe Lieutenant Wittger piloted the Fokker M.5K monoplane with the "firing synchronization system" and shot down the first Allied aircraft. The coming "Fokker disaster" made the participating countries realize that aircraft will be the decisive weapon in air combat. The fixed-wing aircraft has ushered in rapid development and has made significant progress in aerodynamic design, engine, and fuselage structure.
In contrast, Zeppelin has gradually faded out of the military arena. In World War I, the number of Zeppelins that were shot down by the Allies and lost due to the weather reached more than 80. In 1917, Ferdinand von Zeppelin died.
In the early 1930s, the "Count Zeppelin"
flying over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was strictly forbidden to develop military and large airships after World War I. However, thanks to the unremitting efforts of Hugo Ekner, Chairman of Zeppelin Spacecraft, Hugo Ekner and others , After 1925, Zeppelin commercial airship business ushered in a golden period of development.
In 1934, the voyage table of the "Earl Zeppelin" from Germany to Brazil
The fare for the airship from Friedrichshafen, Germany to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was 1,500 Reichmarks (converted to the current RMB, which is close to 70,000 yuan). Because it is expensive, there are guests who show their status and have good money in any era.
In the immature era of civil aviation, the successful operation of the "Earl Zeppelin" shortened the 4-day ship voyage from Germany to New York to 50 hours. Luxury cabins, viewing platforms and high-end restaurants provide passengers with excellent travel The experience has also brought huge benefits to DELAG and Zeppelin.
Zeppelin began designing and manufacturing the largest airship "Hindenburg" in 1931, named after the former German President "Paul von Hindenburg". The Zeppelin Company in Friedrichshafen is in the photo. The metal frame of the Hindenburg is being built. Workers are installing the "Hindenburg" power: Daimler-Benz DB602 V16 diesel engine
"Hindenburg" construction project lasted for nearly 5 years, and the airship was finally completed in early 1936. In the picture, in the huge building workshop in Friedrichshafen, the construction of the "Hindenburg" has entered the final stage, and workers are chemically treating the surface materials of the hull.
On March 4, 1936, the "Hindenburg" carried 87 passengers to complete the first voyage test, including Zeppelin chairman Hugo Eckner, the Luftwaffe airship commander during World War I, and Qi 8 airship captains of the Berlin company. The "Hindenburg" boat on the maiden voyage in the photo has the Olympic rings printed on it(The 11th Summer Olympic Games will be held in Berlin in August 1936) and the airship number "D-LZ129".
Before landing at Lakehurst Naval Airport in New Jersey on May 9, 1936, a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft was guiding it.
On May 9, 1936, the "Hindenburg" landed at Lakehurst Naval Airfield in New Jersey. In order to keep the huge hull stable during landing, the airship would drain downward for buffering. At this time, its resounding name "Hindenburg" has been written on the hull.
The cabin located in the lower part of the "Hindenburg" has two floors, 14 meters wide and 20 meters long. Luxurious accommodation, dining, viewing, entertainment, work and reading rooms are all available, just like a luxurious airship Cruise (high-end flying house)
1936 "Hindenburg" modern kitchen
1936, passengers dining in the "Hindenburg" restaurant
"Hindenburg" restaurant color photo (Museum restoration scene)
"Hindenburg" viewing platform, the beautiful scenery outside the window must make these passengers feel refreshed, and feel that they are worth the money.
The smoking room on the "Hindenburg" is one of the most popular places for passengers to visit
The writing and reading room on the "Hindenburg"
The wine list of the "Hindenburg" bar
The meals during the flight are provided for free (the price is included in the ticket), but you need to pay for the wine when you go to the bar. . According to the exchange rate of the imperial mark at that time: about 2.5 imperial mark to 1 U.S. dollar, 1 ounce of gold (31.1 grams) of 35 dollars (in the gold standard era), roughly equivalent to 0.355 grams of gold. On the wine list, an ordinary glass of cocktail is 1.5 Reichsmark, which is approximately equivalent to 0.53 grams of gold. According to the current gold price of 380 yuan/gram (November 25, 2020), this glass of wine is 200 yuan (purely entertainment).
"Hindenburg" lounge area, in the corner there is a piano
VIPs who are entertaining
On May 9, 1936, the "Hindenburg"
"Hindenburg" landed at Lakehurst Naval Airport The nose of the “No.” is fixed on a mobile mooring tower on the ground. This is the most commonly used method of mooring for airships when the weather is suitable.
On May 9, 1936, the "Hindenburg" was about to sail into the Navy's airship hangar at Lakehurst Naval Airport. The huge hangar is an ideal home for airships to shelter from wind and rain.
"Hindenburg" and its home at Lakehurst Naval Airport, from this angle you can clearly see the two sets of propellers on the right rear side of the hull
The "Hindenburg" taking off from Frankfurt Airport in Germany
Flying over Manhattan, New York
"Hindenburg" parked at Lakehurst Naval Airport
On August 8, 1936, the "Hindenburg" sailing from Germany to Lakehurst Airport, flew over Manhattan, New York, foreground It was the Empire State Building in New York, the tallest building in the world, completed in 1931.
In August 1936, the "Hindenburg" in front of the main stadium of the 11th Berlin Summer Olympics became a dazzling Berlin landmark
In 1936, the "Hindenburg" flying over Boston, the United States
Photo taken in 1937 On May 6, the "Hindenburg" was flying over Manhattan.
The "Hindenburg" flying over Manhattan on May 6, 1937, a few hours later, a sudden disaster was about to come.
May 3, 1937 , "Hindenburg" took off from Frankfurt, Germany, and began its 63rd voyage, the destination is still familiar beautyLakehurst Naval Airport, New Jersey. No one expected that this trip would be the swan song of this star of the times.
On May 6, 1937, the "Hindenburg" arriving at Lakehurst Naval Airport was preparing to land. Due to local thunderstorms, its landing time was delayed by several hours.
At around 7:25 pm on May 6, an accident happened when the Hindenburg landed to a height of 200 meters above the ground. The airship's tail suddenly caught fire.
The rear suddenly caught fire and spread rapidly. The burning aluminum alloy frame and the huge amount of hydrogen leaked from the airbag caused the "Hindenburg" to burn into a fireball in less than 1 minute and quickly fell to the ground. The "Hindenburg Air Crash" killed 35 people. After the disappearance of the air cruise ship, the airship shipping business suffered a huge blow. The voices of questioning the safety of airships were increasing, and the number of passengers dropped sharply. With the debut of seaplanes on the Atlantic route, before the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 The airship has basically withdrawn from the commercial market.
In May 1940, the German Wehrmacht was ordered to dismantle Zeppelin’s hangar facilities at Frankfurt Airport, bringing this airship era to an end.
