zeppelin travel distance

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.

THE GRAF ZEPPELIN

The Graf Zeppelin, a marvel of early 20th-century aviation—standing as a testament to the ingenuity, determination, and vision of its creators and crew.

Named after the pioneering German airship designer Ferdinand von Zeppelin, this colossal dirigible embarked on a remarkable journey that pushed the boundaries of aerial exploration and captured the imagination of people around the world.

From its groundbreaking circumnavigation of the globe to its role in establishing the first transatlantic passenger air service, the Graf Zeppelin's story is one of triumph, innovation, and ultimately, the bittersweet end of an era.

THE GRAF ZEPPELIN WAS NAMED AFTER FERDINAND VON ZEPPELIN

Graf Zeppelin, a monumental airship that dominated the skies in the early 20th century, was aptly named after the visionary German airship pioneer, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, whose groundbreaking designs revolutionized the field of aviation.

The airship's conception and operation were masterfully orchestrated by Hugo Eckener, the esteemed chairman of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, a company dedicated to the construction and advancement of these colossal dirigibles.

Eckener's unwavering commitment to the project, coupled with his exceptional leadership skills, ensured that the Graf Zeppelin would come to fruition.

OVER ITS CAREER, GRAF ZEPPELIN MADE 590 FLIGHTS (1 MILLION MILES)

Graf Zeppelin, an awe-inspiring marvel of engineering, embarked on an illustrious career that spanned 590 flights, covering an astonishing distance of nearly 1.7 million kilometers (over 1 million miles).

This unparalleled achievement solidified its place in hot air balloon and aviation history, as it became the first aircraft ever to surpass the monumental milestone of flying over a million miles.

THE AIRSHIP WAS THE LONGEST & LARGEST AIRSHIP IN THE WORLD WHEN BUILT

The Graf Zeppelin, a behemoth of the skies, required the expertise and dedication of a crew of 36 individuals to maintain its smooth operation, while also accommodating up to 24 passengers in its spacious cabins.

At the time of its construction, the Graf Zeppelin held the prestigious title of being the longest and largest airship in the world.

The airship's impressive size and passenger capacity not only symbolized the grandeur of the era but also foreshadowed the future of luxury air travel.

THE GRAF ZEPPELIN MADE THE FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE WORLD BY AIRSHIP IN 1929

Graf Zeppelin etched its name in aviation history when it completed the first circumnavigation of the world by an airship in 1929, a momentous journey that spanned an incredible 21 days.

This unprecedented feat showcased the airship's remarkable endurance and reliability, as it traversed vast oceans and continents, capturing the imagination of people worldwide.

Not content with this singular achievement, Graf Zeppelin further pushed the boundaries of aerial exploration by accomplishing the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean.

THE AIRSHIP USED BLAU GAS & HYDROGEN AS A FUEL

The Graf Zeppelin's innovative use of Blau gas, a gaseous fuel derived from coal, in addition to the conventional hydrogen, proved to be a game-changer in terms of the airship's operational capabilities.

This clever combination of fuels granted the Graf Zeppelin an unprecedented advantage, significantly extending its range and endurance compared to airships that relied solely on hydrogen.

The implementation of Blau gas showcased the forward-thinking approach of the airship's designers.

FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CAME FROM PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIONS & THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT

The construction of the Graf Zeppelin was made possible through a combination of public subscriptions and support from the German government, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm and belief in the potential of this groundbreaking airship.

To offset the substantial operating costs, the Graf Zeppelin's management employed innovative strategies, such as the sale of special postage stamps to eager collectors, which not only generated revenue but also fostered a sense of public engagement and pride in the airship's achievements.

The project also garnered the support of influential figures like William Randolph Hearst, whose backing further bolstered the airship's financial stability.

FROM 1928 TO 1937, THE GRAF ZEPPELIN MADE MANY PIONEERING LONG-DISTANCE FLIGHTS

From 1928 to 1937, the Graf Zeppelin embarked on a series of groundbreaking long-distance flights that pushed the boundaries of aerial exploration and opened up new frontiers for commercial air travel.

These pioneering journeys included thrilling expeditions to the frigid landscapes of the Arctic and the exotic destinations of the Middle East.

Capturing the imagination of people around the world and showcasing the airship's unparalleled capabilities in conquering vast distances and navigating diverse climates.

Perhaps the Graf Zeppelin's most significant contribution to the advancement of air travel was its establishment of the first commercial passenger air service between Germany and Brazil.

A remarkable feat that spanned five years and demonstrated the viability of long-distance air transportation.

THE NAZI PARTY USED THE GRAF ZEPPELIN FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES

The rise of the Nazi Party in Germany in 1933 marked a significant shift in the Graf Zeppelin's role, as the iconic airship was increasingly utilized for propaganda purposes by the new regime.

One particularly notable instance of this was when the Graf Zeppelin flew in tandem with the equally impressive Hindenburg airship, creating a awe-inspiring spectacle in the skies above Germany just before a crucial national election.

This carefully orchestrated display was designed to evoke a sense of national pride and unity, showcasing the technological prowess and superiority of the German nation under Nazi leadership.

The sight of these two colossal airships, symbols of German engineering and innovation, flying side by side served as a powerful visual metaphor for the strength and ambition of the Third Reich, effectively captivating the public imagination and garnering support for the Nazi Party's political agenda.

THE GRAF ZEPPELIN HAD AN ALMOST PERFECT SAFETY RECORD

The Graf Zeppelin's impeccable safety record stands as a testament to the skill, dedication, and meticulous attention to detail of its designers, engineers, and crew.

Throughout its illustrious career, the airship flew an astonishing 1.7 million kilometers, a distance that would take one around the Earth more than 42 times, while safely carrying over 13,000 passengers without a single injury.

This remarkable achievement was unheard of in an era when air travel was still in its infancy and the risks associated with flying were considerably higher than they are today.

THE AIRSHIP WAS RETIRED ONE MONTH AFTER THE HINDENBURG DISASTER IN 1937

The Graf Zeppelin's illustrious career came to an abrupt end just one month after the tragic Hindenburg disaster in 1937, which cast a dark shadow over the future of airship travel and led to a widespread loss of confidence in the technology.

Despite its own impeccable safety record, the Graf Zeppelin was ultimately unable to escape the fallout from the Hindenburg incident, and the decision was made to retire the airship from active service.

The once-majestic airship met a rather ignominious fate in 1940 when, on the orders of Hermann Göring, a prominent figure in the Nazi regime, it was dismantled so that its precious metal components could be repurposed for the construction of aircraft.

This decision, driven by the pressing needs of the German war machine, marked a sad and unceremonious end to the Graf Zeppelin's story, as the airship that had once conquered the skies and captured the hearts and minds of people around the world was reduced to scrap metal in service of the Nazi war effort.

Wikipedia - LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin

Britannica - Graf Zeppelin

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Graf Zeppelin: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The World's Most Successful Rigid Airship

• The Graf Zeppelin accomplished several aviation firsts, including the first commercial transatlantic flight, and a round-the-world flight.
• The airship had a luxurious gondola with private cabins and a lounge, catering primarily to the elite.
• The catastrophic Hindenburg disaster marked the end of airship travel, leading to the Graf Zeppelin's retirement in 1937.

The LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin is remembered as the most successful Zeppelin ever made. Over its career, the giant airship flew over a million miles on 590 flights and carried over 34,000 passengers without a single injury. Before aircraft, it was Zeppelins flying passengers across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. The Graf Zeppelin was withdrawn from service after the disaster of the Hindenburg airship that catastrophically burst into flames in Lakehurst, New Jersey on its maiden flight.

A zeppelin of firsts

The graf zeppelin was the first to cross several aviation milestones, including offering the first commercial transatlantic flight..

The Graf Zeppelin set a number of early records, being the first in a number of fields. It was the first to offer commercial transatlantic passenger flights a decade before Pan Am introduced its Clipper flying boat service across the Atlantic. On October 11, 1928, the Graf Zeppelin departed Friedrichshafen, Germany, arriving at Lakehurst, New Jersey on October 15, 1928.

According to airships.net , the Graf Zeppelin was also the first to fly a scientific mission over the North Pole, the first to make regularly scheduled transatlantic passenger crossings by air, and the first commercial passenger flight to go around the world.

First round the world flight (" weltfahrt ")

The graf zeppelin flew around the world in a flight taking 57 hours and 31 minutes..

The Graf Zeppelin's most famous flight came in 1929 when it undertook an around-the-world voyage. The flight covered 21,250 miles in five legs, going from Lakehurst to Friedrichshafen (Germany), from Friedrichshafen to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Los Angeles, and from Los Angeles back to Lakehurst (and then back to Friedrichshafen again). At the time, the flight was a media sensation.

The Americans wanted the historic flight to begin and end in America, while the Germans wanted it to begin and end in Germany. As a compromise, it had two official beginnings and endings - one at Lakehurst and one at Friedrichshafen. The longest leg was the 102-hour flight to Tokyo across Siberia. It had planned to land in Moscow, but this was canceled because of bad weather. According to airships.net , Soviet dictator Stalin felt slighted and complained about skipping Moscow.

The gondola

The graf zeppelin's gondola boasted a lounge and 10 twin-bed private cabins..

The 98-foot-long gondola was luxurious - a level of luxury arguably unmatched in air travel today (flying on the Graf Zeppelin was only something the elite could afford). The gondola was also unheated and cold, so passengers would spend much of the time huddled in heavy winter coats or under layers of blankets. The only public space on the gondola was the lounge/dining room (approx. 16-foot square) located aft of the kitchen.

Ten small cabins with upper and lower berths accommodated the airship's twenty passengers. These were similar to those on a sleeping train and could be arranged as sofas during the day and as beds during the night. At the end of the corridor, the Graf Zeppelin had separate washrooms for men and women. Early flying was only for the high-paying elite (including Pan Am's Clippers), and the service focused on luxury much more than today.

World's longest and largest airship

At 776 feet long, the graf zeppelin was the largest airship until the hindenburg was built in the mid-1930s..

When the Graf Zeppelin was built, she was the longest and largest airship in the world, 776 feet long and 100 feet in diameter. While the Graf Zeppelin was not of the ideal aerodynamic shape or the best structurally, she was the best that was manageable within the limitations of the hangar at Friedrichshafen.

The Graf Zeppelin did not remain the world's largest airship for long. In 1936, the even larger Hindenburg class took flight (there were two airships in the class - the LZ 129 Hindenburg and the LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin). These giant airships were almost 804 feet long and 135 feet in diameter. But the Hindenburg was destroyed on its maiden flight, and the LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin was never brought into regular passenger service.

Could Zeppelins Be The Answer To Hydrogen Transportation?

On hearing the news of the hindenburg, the graf zeppelin completed its flight the next day and never carried another paying passenger again..

After a successful career flying around the world, her replacement, Hindenburg-class airships, were built. These were seen as the future of passenger flight, but that vision was to be dramatically shattered. But in 1937, the crew of the Graf Zeppelin heard the Hindenburg disaster on the radio on 6 May 1937. The passengers were not informed until after safely landing the next day in Germany. At the time, the Graf Zeppelin was returning from Brazil to Germany and was over the Canaries.

The diaster clarified that it wasn't safe to continue flying hydrogen-filled airships and that helium needed to be used. However, it was impossible to source enough helium, and the public faith in hydrogen was destroyed. That was the last passenger flight of the Graf Zeppelin, and she never carried another paying passenger again. She was broken up by order of Hermann Goering's Luftwaffe in March 1940.

Farthest flight by an airship

Ninety years since the first round-the-world airship flight

August 2019 marks the 90 year anniversary of the first round-the-world airship journey, made by German pilot Dr Hugo Eckener and his passengers in the rigid airship, Graf Zeppelin.

The Graf Zeppelin was already famous, having already made a 71-hour, 6384.50km journey in 1928, making the FAI record books for distance and duration in an airship; records that still stand today.

In 1929, American media mogul William Randolph Hearst part-sponsored the Graf Zeppelin to make the first round-the-world trip by a passenger carrying airship. He insisted that the trip began and ended in the US, and so the airship departed from Lakehurst, New Jersey on 8th August 1929 with Dr Hugo Eckener at the helm.

It was the first round-the-world trip to carry passengers. A total of 20 men and one woman - Hearst reporters (including journalist Lady Grace Drummond-Hay), a millionaire socialite, an Australian explorer, US Naval representatives - joined the crew of 40, including physicians, meteorologists, navigators and engineers to make the record-breaking journey.

The cost of the flight was also offset by carrying souvenir mail. This letter for example, cost what was - in 1929 - a very highly-priced $3.55. 

The airship was composed of a lightweight metal frame covered by fabric and was 236 metres in length. Inside the structure were 12 hydrogen-filled buoyancy tanks, fuel tanks, work spaces and the crew quarters. The gondola which was mounted below this structure contained the flight deck, a sitting and dining room and passenger cabins. Its maximum speed was 128kmph (80mph). 

The Graf Zeppelin’s route

The airship flew from Lakehurst, New Jersey, stopping in Friedrichshafen, Germany (where the airship had been constructed) to refuel, then over Siberia to Tokyo where the Eckner took tea with Emperor Hirohito. From there, it flew over to Los Angeles with a strategic fly-by of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Taking off from Los Angeles, it then continued across the deserts of Arizona and Texas back to Lakehurst on 29th August. 

To bring the airship back ‘home’ to Germany, it made a final stretch form Lakehurst to Friedrichshafen from 1-4 September 1929.

• See video of the Graf Zeppelin flying over Germany

The flying time totalled 12 days and 11 minutes and received a huge amount of attention across the globe. It was also the first time that the Pacific Ocean had been crossed by any kind of aircraft. The entire circumnavigation took 21 days, 5 hours, 31 minutes.

Images: FAI, The Cooper Collection of Zeppelin Postal History

FAI Global partners

Zeppelins – The Rise and Fall

Zeppelins were once hailed as a monumental technological achievement, capturing the imaginations of people worldwide. These massive airships traversed the skies, ferrying passengers across long distances with a level of elegance and spectacle unmatched by other forms of travel at the time. Despite their initial promise and impressive presence in the sky, zeppelins faced numerous challenges. This introduction to their rise and subsequent decline explores the factors that led to their eventual fall from grace.

The Rise of Zeppelins

The rise of zeppelins marks a pivotal chapter in the annals of aviation, largely attributed to the pioneering efforts of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. In the late 19th century, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin revolutionized air travel by developing the first successful rigid airship. While there were earlier concepts and designs for airships, Zeppelin’s innovation offered greater structural strength and paved the way for the future of airships.

Although Count Zeppelin was not the first to toy with the idea of lighter-than-air travel, he was the first to elevate it to a commendable level of functionality and safety. The first commercial zeppelin flight was launched in 1910, marking a new era of passenger air travel. During World War I, zeppelins were notably used by Germany to bomb Britain, showcasing their strategic military value as well as their capability to cover long distances.

Zeppelins – Passenger Era

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By the 1930s, zeppelins had enjoyed two decades of dominance in the sky. However, despite their initial success and luxury, the inherent dangers of using hydrogen and the evolving capabilities of fixed-wing aircraft began to overshadow the practicality of zeppelin travel, setting the stage for their decline before the catastrophic Hindenburg disaster in 1937. This period highlighted the zenith of airship travel, just before its swift and dramatic decline.

The Hindenburg Catastrophe – The Fall of Zeppelins

The fall of the zeppelins was dramatically underscored by the tragic disaster of the Hindenburg, the largest airship ever constructed at the time. Built by the German Zeppelin Company, the Hindenburg stretched an impressive 803 feet in length and first took to the skies in March 1936. In its brief operational lifespan, this colossal airship completed ten transatlantic flights to the United States and seven to Brazil, along with numerous other voyages across Europe, including to Britain. However, its career ended in catastrophe on May 6, 1937, when it caught fire while attempting to dock at the Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey. This disaster claimed the lives of 36 people and marked a pivotal moment in the history of air travel.

Theories about the cause of the Hindenburg disaster abound, with most evidence pointing to the highly flammable hydrogen used for lift, which ignited during the airship’s landing approach. Some speculate that a spark from the electrical storms in the area could have ignited leaking hydrogen, while others suggest sabotage or a failure in the airship’s structure as possible causes. Regardless of the specific trigger, the Hindenburg tragedy resonated deeply, broadcasting the risks of airship travel to the world through vivid, horrific images. The incident effectively ended public confidence in zeppelins, leading to their rapid decline in commercial and military use, as safer, more reliable airplane technologies advanced. This marked the end of the era of the great airships, a period characterized by both awe-inspiring achievements and stark reminders of the dangers of early aviation.

Zeppelins Today

Today, zeppelins are experiencing a resurgence in various roles, primarily driven by their sustainability benefits and technological advancements. Modern airships predominantly use helium instead of hydrogen, due to its nonflammable properties, enhancing their safety profile significantly. This shift to helium has enabled new uses for zeppelins, including environmental monitoring, advertising, broadcasting at sports and large events, and even roles in cargo transport due to their fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions compared to traditional aircraft.

The recent revival of zeppelins is part of what some experts are calling an “airship renaissance,” focusing on their potential to offer more environmentally friendly alternatives in the aviation and transport sectors.

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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.

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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10 facts about zeppelins.

Written by Tiffanie Culver

Modified & Updated: 06 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Zeppelins, also known as airships, have a fascinating history and have left an indelible mark on the world of aviation. These colossal flying machines, filled with a lighter-than-air gas such as helium or hydrogen, have captured the imagination of people for over a century. From their early days as luxurious passenger vessels to their military applications during wartime, zeppelins have played a significant role in the evolution of air travel.

In this article, we'll delve into 10 intriguing facts about zeppelins, shedding light on their technological marvel, historical significance, and enduring legacy. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an aviation buff, or simply curious about these majestic airborne behemoths, this exploration of zeppelins is sure to pique your interest. So, fasten your seatbelts (or should we say, hold on to your airship ropes?), as we embark on a journey through the skies of zeppelin knowledge.

Key Takeaways:

• Zeppelins, named after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, were once luxurious air travel symbols but faced a setback after the Hindenburg disaster. They played a pivotal role in World War I and continue to inspire modern aerospace innovations.
• Despite the Hindenburg disaster, Zeppelins’ legacy endures, captivating aviation enthusiasts worldwide. Their opulent beginnings, wartime contributions, and potential modern applications showcase human innovation and exploration in the skies.

The Zeppelin airship was named after its inventor, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a German general and aircraft manufacturer, is credited with the invention of the Zeppelin airship. His vision and engineering prowess led to the creation of these colossal flying machines, forever imprinting his name in the annals of aviation history.

Zeppelins were once the epitome of luxury air travel.

During the early 20th century, Zeppelins represented the height of luxury air travel. These majestic airships offered spacious cabins, elegant dining rooms, and breathtaking panoramic views, providing an unparalleled travel experience for the elite.

The Hindenburg disaster dealt a severe blow to the reputation of Zeppelins.

On May 6, 1937, the catastrophic explosion of the Hindenburg airship in New Jersey shattered public confidence in Zeppelins. This tragic event, which claimed 36 lives, marked the abrupt end of the era of commercial Zeppelin travel.

Zeppelins played a pivotal role in World War I.

During World War I, Zeppelins were utilized for reconnaissance, bombing missions, and naval patrols. Their ability to navigate above the clouds and evade ground-based defenses made them formidable adversaries in the theater of war.

The Graf Zeppelin circumnavigated the globe in 1929.

Under the command of Dr. Hugo Eckener, the Graf Zeppelin embarked on a groundbreaking circumnavigation of the globe in This monumental achievement showcased the reliability and endurance of Zeppelin airships, further solidifying their status as marvels of aviation engineering.

Zeppelins were powered by internal combustion engines.

The propulsion system of Zeppelins relied on a series of internal combustion engines, which drove multiple propellers to propel the airship through the sky. This innovative engineering feat enabled Zeppelins to achieve impressive speeds and long-distance voyages.

The structure of Zeppelins consisted of a lightweight metal framework.

Zeppelins were constructed using a lightweight metal framework, typically made of aluminum, that provided structural integrity while minimizing overall weight. This advanced design allowed the airship to achieve lift and maintain stability during flight.

The iconic shape of Zeppelins is characterized by their elongated, cylindrical hull.

The distinctive silhouette of Zeppelins is defined by their elongated, cylindrical hull, which houses the gas cells containing the lifting gas, typically hydrogen or helium . This iconic design, coupled with their massive size, made Zeppelins a captivating sight in the skies.

Zeppelins have experienced a resurgence in interest for commercial and military applications.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in utilizing Zeppelin technology for various commercial and military applications. From cargo transport to surveillance missions, modern adaptations of the classic Zeppelin concept are being explored for their potential in the evolving aerospace industry.

The legacy of Zeppelins continues to captivate the imagination of aviation enthusiasts worldwide.

Despite the passage of time, the legacy of Zeppelins endures as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of innovation in aviation. Their impact on the history of air travel and their enduring allure continue to fascinate and inspire aviation enthusiasts across the globe.

Zeppelins have left an indelible mark on the history of aviation, embodying the spirit of adventure and pushing the boundaries of what was once deemed impossible in the realm of flight. The legacy of these colossal airships, from their opulent beginnings to their pivotal role in wartime endeavors, continues to resonate with enthusiasts and historians alike, serving as a timeless symbol of human innovation and exploration in the skies.

In conclusion, Zeppelins have left an indelible mark on the history of aviation, serving as both a marvel of engineering and a symbol of a bygone era. The grandeur and innovation of these airships continue to captivate the imagination, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a time when the skies were conquered in a different manner. Despite their eventual decline in commercial use, the legacy of Zeppelins endures, inspiring ongoing fascination and interest in their unique place in the evolution of air travel.

What were the main advantages of Zeppelins over other aircraft? Zeppelins offered several advantages, including their ability to carry heavy payloads over long distances, their relatively smooth and stable flight, and their capability to operate in adverse weather conditions.

What led to the decline of Zeppelins as a popular mode of transportation? The decline of Zeppelins can be attributed to several factors, including the development of faster and more efficient airplanes, the high-profile disasters such as the Hindenburg tragedy, and the impact of World War II on the airship industry.

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The Graf Zeppelin’s First intercontinental Flight (1928) and the World’s First Aerial Stowaway

The World’s First Aerial Stowaway In 1928, 19-year-old Clarence Terhune became a sensation in Germany, after stowing away on the return leg of the maiden flight of the Graf Zeppelin, flying from Lakehurst, New Jersey to Friedrichshafen, Germany. Terhune, a golf caddy from St. Louis, Missouri, who had already established a habit of stowing away on trains and ships and of crashing major sports events, made a bet with his brother-in-law that he could trump all previous stowaways with the Zeppelin. Clarence Terhune And he did. He snuck aboard while the dirigible was in its hangar and made his big reveal once over the Atlantic Ocean. Though made to work in the kitchen for the remainder of the journey and arrested on landing, he was hailed as a hero by the German people, sent telegrams, invited to dinners and was even offered a job, it was reported. Clarence Terhune is arrested upon his arrival in Germany. Photo courtesy of Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-06782

Source: CNN Travel – cnn.com/travel

Source: en.wikipedia.org

The Graf Zeppelin’s First intercontinental flight (1928) In October 1928 the Graf Zeppelin made its first intercontinental trip, a 9,926 km (6,168 mi), 111 hour crossing from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst with Dr. Eckener in command. Capt. Ernst Lehmann, who would be killed in the crash of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst eight and a half years later, served as First Officer on the flight and U.S. Navy LCDR Charles E. Rosendahl, commander of the ZR-3 USS Los Angeles (ex-LZ 126), made the westward journey during which he also stood watch as a regular ship’s officer. Despite encountering heavy headwinds and stormy weather, Eckener had repeated the success of his first transatlantic crossing four years earlier when he delivered the LZ-126 to the U.S. Navy in October 1924 and was welcomed enthusiastically then both with a “ticker tape” parade in New York and a subsequent invitation to the White House. A portion of the damaged fabric covering removed from the Graf Zeppelin in October 1928, after its first transatlantic flight from Germany to NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey. Source: The Cooper Collection of Zeppelin Postal History On this first transatlantic trip the airship suffered potentially serious damage to its port tail fin on the third day of the flight when a large section of the linen covering was ripped loose while passing through a mid-ocean squall line at night about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) east of Bermuda (35N, 42W). With the engines stopped, the ship’s riggers did their best to tie down the torn fabric to the framework and sew blankets to the ship’s envelope while attempting not to fall to the raging seas just below. In the interest of safety, the riggers (including Dr. Eckener’s son, Knut) retreated back into the ship whenever it dropped to within a couple of hundred feet of the ocean’s surface. This allowed the engines to be restarted to maintain lift. German post card from the “First North American Flight”. Source: The Cooper. Collection of Zeppelin Postal History The Graf crossed the U.S. coast at Cape Charles, Virginia, around 10 am on October 15, passed over Washington, D.C., at 12:20 pm, Baltimore at 1 pm, Philadelphia at 2:40 pm, New York City at 4 pm, and landed at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station at 5:38 pm. After an almost two-week stay in the United States, during which time its damaged tail was repaired, the Graf left Lakehurst for Germany at 1:24 am on October 29 and arrived back in Friedrichshafen shortly before dawn on November 1.

Read more about Clarence Terhune’s adventures.

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3rd May, 2017 in Aviation

Zeppelin Hindenburg, transatlantic workhorse

By Dan Grossman

By Cheryl Ganz

By Patrick Russell

In 1936 and 1937, the Zeppelin Hindenburg was the quickest way to travel between the United States and Europe. LZ-129 Hindenburg dazzled the world as the latest in a series of advances in transoceanic transportation. A hundred years earlier, Brunel’s steamship Great Western , steaming at 9 knots, crossed the Atlantic in fifteen days. By 1890, the Cunard liners Etruria and Umbria crossed the Atlantic at 19 knots in about a week. By 1936 – the year Hindenburg first flew – Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary sped at 30 knots, but it still took about five days to transport goods and passengers from Europe to America.

While Queen Mary steamed on the ocean below, Hindenburg carried passengers from shore to shore in a matter of hours; the airship’s fastest crossing was just forty-three hours. ‘Two Days to Europe!’ boasted Hindenburg ’s brochures and posters.

In contrast with her rivals on the ocean, no Hindenburg passenger ever complained of seasickness. Cunard Line’s massive Queen Mary was over 80,000 tons and more than a 1,000ft long, but still moved so badly in rough weather that some said it could ‘roll the milk out of tea’.

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.’

Between 1924 and the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, Zeppelins revolutionised transatlantic postal services by offering rapid airmail transport. Carrying and servicing mail and freight subsidised the giant airships’ flights. Hindenburg was the largest of them all, making it the world’s largest flying post of?ce, and passengers and crew enjoyed postal services and facilities aboard. This early transcontinental carriage of mail connected the world through airmail among many countries and continents.

Hindenburg provided safe and timely freight services. Time-sensitive freight included live animals, perishable foods, flowers, pharmaceuticals, films, machinery and technical instruments, artworks, jewellery, toys and household goods. Hindenburg also carried large valuables such as automobiles, pianos and aeroplanes. On its first return flight from Lakehurst to Frankfurt in May 1936, the giant ship transported a Staggerwing Beechcraft (with its wings detached) in the central cargo bay – the first aircraft transported across the ocean as freight by Hindenburg .

The first Catholic mass to be celebrated in the air was conducted aboard Zeppelin Hindenburg during Hindenburg’s first flight to the United States in 1936. Father Paul Schulte received a papal dispensation to perform the mass after giving assurances that the sacramental wine would not spill during the service. Father Paul, a First World War German military pilot who had left the military for the clergy, became known as the ‘flying priest’ –using his flying skills to do missionary work in remote areas.

On the morning of 6 May, during her final flight, the weather ?nally cleared as Hindenburg ?ew over the North American coast. Passengers spotted Boston just before noon. By the time the airship reached New York City for a traditional loop over Manhattan, Hindenburg’s silvery hull re?ected the spring afternoon’s bright sunshine. As usual, steam whistles and sirens all over the city wailed and traf?c stood still so that New Yorkers could behold the immense marvel ?oating overhead. Already behind schedule, Hindenburg then ?ew south toward Lakehurst, New Jersey.

The First World War ace Ernst Udet served Nazi Germany’s Ministry of Aviation as head of its technical office. In a 1937 test experiment, Colonel Udet ?ew in a Focke-Wulf Stieglitz to hook on to a trapeze suspended below Hindenburg . This photograph from a collectible August 1938 Zeppelin calendar celebrates this challenging aerial feat.

Hindenburg made 62 successful flights before her ghastly end on 6th May 1937. In less than a minute, from the first outbreak of fire, flames reduced Hindenburg to a pile of scorched and twisted girders on the Lakehurst airfield.  The moment Hindenburg ’s scorched framework settled to the ground, rescuers began hauling the survivors to the air station’s dispensary, using every available vehicle, even baggage trucks and the limousines waiting to ferry passengers off of the airfield.

The Zeppelin Company’s perfect safety record – 27 years of civil flight operations without a single passenger fatality – smouldered in the ashes. In the end, 13 of 36 passengers, 22 of 61 crew members, and one member of the civilian ground crew lost their lives in the disaster.

Extracted from Zeppelin Hindenburg: An Illustrated History of LZ-129 by Dan Grossman, Cheryl Ganz & Patrick Russell

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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!

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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.

LZ-129 Hindenburg statistics:

• Length: 245 m / 803.8 feet
• Diameter: 41.2 m / 135.1 feet
• Gas capacity: 200,000 cubic meters / 7,062,000 cubic feet
• Lift: 511,500 lbs
• Cruising Speed: 125 km/h (76 mph)
• Maximum Speed: 135 km/h (84 mph)
• Main Powerplant: 4 Daimler-Benz 16-cylinder LOF 6 (DB 602) Diesels
• Crew: 40 flight officers and men; 10-12 stewards and cooks
• Passengers: 50 sleeping berths (1936); 72 sleeping berths (1937)
• First flight: March 4, 1936
• Final flight: Crashed, May 6, 1937

Additional specifications and technical details are available on the following pages of this website:

• Hindenburg Flight Operations
• Control Car, Flight Instruments, and Flight Controls
• Hindenburg Design and Technology

Size comparison: Hindenburg and Boeing 747-400

Size comparison: Hindenburg and Goodyear Blimp

Size comparison: Hindenburg and earlier zeppelins

Relative sizes of LZ-11 Viktoria Luise, LZ-120 Bodensee, LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin. and LZ-129 Hindenburg

Hindenburg profile, showing major elements and numbering system for gas cells and frames. Drawing courtesy David Fowler. (click to enlarge)

88 Leave a Reply

A lot of people seem to be going on about helium being a safer gas for rigid airships. The down fall of this is 1 it is a heavier gas than Hydrogen 2 It gives 25 percent less lift at the same volume as Hydrogen. 3 It is very costly …  Read more »

Airships are not a practical form of transportation or shipping and with many US Navy airships having crashed, The USS Shenandoah killing 14 officers and sailors, USS Akron crash killing 73 officers and sailors, USS Macon killing two. The US Navy gave up on airships.

Yes, because they used older downed German airships as a blueprint, immediately “dating” the technology, repeating possible structural mistakes.

Just wanted to ask if anyone knows of an excellent biography of Hugo Eckener { in English, or, GERMAN }; also excellent book on the LZ–129, and LZ–130. One other query, what was the cost of both Zeppelins from the Reichsmarks to U.S. Dollars—-Thanx a bunch! ! !

Here’s a suggestion for an Eckener bio: “Ein Deutscher namens Eckener” by Rolf Italiaander, Verlag Stadler, 1981. Whether it is indeed “excellent” or not, I cannot say (don’t read German), but at 561 pages in length, one is not likely to find a longer treatment. It is currently available from: …  Read more »

Everybody needs to think plastic. All those Space ship movies have the space ships looking like steel. Think of them as Plastic. I have found a piece of honey combed plastic. If the whole “ship” was designed with the honey combed plastic in mind, it would be a very light …  Read more »

hi Tom, please contact me: [email protected]

The Hindenburg is so amazing. I wish I was there in 1930’s to witness it magnificence. Thanks to this article. Very interesting!

I know it’s not the same but you can see the almost as amazing Graf zeppelin. This one is particularly good. https://youtu.be/tpSPEc3ZTKE

Hi Karen. My grandmother lived near Atlantic City at the time. She spoke of seeing the Hindenburg pass over on one of its trips. To her, it was awesome!

Just a thought, consider the ramifications of using several airships in tandem with a platform and selling the idea to NASA or the military as a platform for space travel. This moves the public safety factors due to a different set of regulations that the Military and NASA use and …  Read more »

At sea level every liter of helium is about 1 gram lighter then the air it replaces. As you get higher, the air is thinner and thus weighs less. If you gain only half a gram since the air your replacing is lighter, you wont have enough lift to lift …  Read more »

You are missing the point. If you can lift a rocket to 18000 feet for example, you are above 50 percent of the mass of the atmosphere. SO you use dramatically lees fuel.

What kind of altitude are you expecting to achieve by this method, and what would be on the platform?

That very idea has been studied in the US and USSR multiple times over multiple decades. It is very hard to do with a useful sized booster rocket. Among other issues ground handling remains an immense problem for any large airship and making the airships rigid enough to withstand the …  Read more »

It is not that simple.First, the gas must be very light second of all, rockets and space shuttles travel at 23,000 +km so that it can escape gravity so airships must travel at a speed that they will soon burn up so uh,that is not possible

Dan, Please don’t forget to add the height of the Hindenburg: I found it the ship was 149 feet tall. Best Regards,

Remember this old airships was running weekly between europe-south ameica and europe-new york for a decade without any crash before hindenburg burn up in new york with dangerous gas, now days they use safe gas. So why should it happen something .a crash, now days. People flying ballons all over …  Read more »

Yes,now they use helium

Helium does not have as much lift potential as Hydrogen.

If they could build a Hindenburg for 80 years ago, of course you can do better and cheaper nowdays.They were using animal skins to cover the balloon, aluminium was a problem,old engines etc…. Forget cabins and long hauls flights between newyork and london.There is nothing to see. But short trips …  Read more »

Dear Sir I remember the airship going over my house in Brecon I was 9 year old my father and me coould hear music in it. it was very large there was a large wood by my home and the air ship was bigger.it was a lovely evening about 9pm. …  Read more »

Mr. Prosser, I was just viewing a program on television on the Hindenburg. When I saw your post I found it quite intriguing that you have so accurately described the sheer size of the airship as well as being able to hear music as it flew over. I’m sure that …  Read more »

Did a Zeppelin Fly over Giza in the 1930s?

While airships may now invoke visions of fiery disasters, dirigibles once circumnavigated the globe., published march 28, 2019.

About this rating

A viral photograph supposedly showing a zeppelin airship flying above the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt is frequently circulated on social media:

We have not been able to locate the original source of this image, but the story relayed in this tweet does reference an actual event that we could corroborate via news stories and genuine photographs.

The image shown above likely depicts the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin, an airship built in Germany in 1928. That dirigible's most famous flight occurred in 1929, when it circumnavigated the globe in 21 days, and this representation probably depicts a flight from a few years later when the airship traveled across the Middle East in April 1931.

Karl Henry von Wiegand, a journalist who was aboard the Graf Zeppelin during its flight over Egypt, described the journey in an article published by the San Francisco Examiner in June 1931. In addition to documenting the airship's journey, von Wiegand's article is of note because it argued that airships were "steadily convincing a hard-headed and skeptical world of the practicability and safety of dirigibles as an outstanding factor in long-distance air transportation." While this sentiment may have been true at the time, airship travel was all but grounded a few years later after the infamous Hindenberg disaster of 1937.

We've transcribed a few relevant portions of that 1931 news article below:

Sun, Jul 12, 1931 – 41 · The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com The appalling disaster to the British R-101 -- which I claim was avoidable and in the main due to three things: national pride, certain details of design and construction and inexperience in handling such ships -- has been used to renew, even intensify, skepticism and opposition to airships. Nevertheless, the Graf Zeppelin, in all probability the last of hydrogen-filled airships, has just demonstrated again the commercial practicability of dirigibles. With sixty-six persons on board, including twenty-five passengers and a quantity of mail, we flew from Friedrichshafen to Alexandria, Egypt in thirty hours and forty-five minutes. Southward into the teeth of a stiff wind we turned and flew over the Nile delta, probably the richest soil in teh world. Below us soon the Nile, like a ribbon, with scores of picturesque lateen-sailed feluccas. Sailing boats, donkeys, camels, motor-cars, railway trains, slow plodding natives - every mode of transportation was represented there. "The Pyramids in sight!" came a shout from the bridge. A rush to the windows. In the distance, silhouette-like against the sun, loomed the world's most ancient monuments. We circled them and the Sphinx and twice over the city of Cairo with the domes and needle-like minarets of the many mosques.

The image popularized on social media might be a symbolic representation created by manipulating pictures after the fact rather than an actual photograph of the event, but even if so it's a reasonably accurate depiction. We located a number of real photographs showing the Graf Zeppelin over the pyramids in Egypt, along with one additional image of the airship specifically journeying over the Great Spinx of Giza.

The following photograph, available via the Library of Congress and attributed to the Keystone View Company, shows three men watching the Graf Zeppelin as it approached the pyramids:

Title: The Graf Zeppelin's rendezvous with the eternal desert and the more than 4,000 year old pyramids of Gizeh, Egypt Summary: Three men sitting on a hill near one of the great pyramids with desert in background and the Graf Zeppelin in the sky.

The Giza Project at Harvard University has collected several additional photographs of the airship above the pyramids in Egypt, and a photograph showing an airship flying over the Sphinx of Giza is available via Getty Images :

Henry von Wiegand, Karl.   "Zep Proving Worth of Dirigibles."     The San Francisco Examiner .   12 July 1931.

Airships.net .   "Graf Zeppelin History."     Retrieved 28 March 2019.

By Dan Evon

Dan Evon is a former writer for Snopes.