Zeppelin LZ 127 The Graf Zeppelin was built in Germany in 1928 and was at that time the largest and most advanced airship in the world.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1927: Scaffold workers work on a huge steel structure.
The airship got its name in honor of the German pioneer of rigid airships, Count Zeppelin. The LZ 127 had the happiest fate of all 150 rigid airships built in the history of aeronautics. For nine years of operation, the "Graf Zeppelin" spent about 17,200 hours in the air, made 590 flights to different countries of the world, covered almost 1.7 million kilometers, transported 13,110 passengers and about 70 tons of cargo and mail; while he crossed the Atlantic Ocean 143 times and the Pacific Ocean once.
The length of the airship was 236.6 m, the maximum diameter was 30.5 m, the volume was 105,000 m³, the carrying gas (hydrogen) was located in 17 compartments. The power plant consisted of 5 Maybach VL II engines with a power of 530 hp. every.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1927: Zeppelin front gondola.
One of the fundamental differences between the LZ 127 and other zeppelin was the use of liquid gaseous fuel (blau-gas) for engine operation, the density of which was close to the density of air, and the calorific value was much higher than that of gasoline. This made it possible to significantly increase the flight range and eliminated the need to tighten the airship as fuel was depleted (the airships were tightened by releasing part of the carrier gas, which created a number of economic and pilotage inconveniences); in addition, the use of blau-gas led to a lower load on the frame than in the case of installing numerous heavy tanks with gasoline.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1930: Main gondola.
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Blau-gas was in 12 compartments in the lower third of the airship frame, the volume of which could be increased to 30,000 m³ (for hydrogen, in this case, 105,000 m³-30,000 m³ = 75,000 m³ remained). Gasoline was taken on board as additional fuel.
The payload of the airship was about 25 tons (when the bags intended for blau-gas were filled with hydrogen, about 55 tons), the maximum speed was 128 km / h, and the cruising speed was about 115 km / h. The flight range is over 10,000 km. The crew consisted of 40-45 people.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin": the steel frame of the airship.
From below, directly to the airship body, in front of it, a front gondola was rigidly attached, the length of which was 40 m, width - 6 m and maximum height - 2.25 m (the largest gondola in the history of airship construction).
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1928: construction of a giant airship gondola.
In the front part of the gondola there was a control room, behind it - service and further - passenger premises. In terms of comfort, the LZ 127 was significantly superior to the then (and in some respects, modern) aircraft.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1928: Use of the outer cover of the airship.
Passengers were accommodated in 10 double equipped cabins with berths.
LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin: cockpit interior.
In front of the passenger compartment there was a spacious 25 m² wardroom, which could simultaneously accommodate 28 people. Through the inclined windows of the cabins and saloon, sufficient visibility and lighting were provided. The kitchen was designed to serve more than 50 people for several days. In addition, there was a post office, washrooms, etc.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1928: flight over Hamburg.
In the fall of 1925, at the initiative of Hugo Eckener, one of the pioneers of controlled aeronautics and associate of Count Zeppelin, a nationwide collection of donations was organized in Germany to create a new large experimental transport zeppelin. They managed to collect 2.3 million marks, which served as the basis for the construction of the LZ 127 airship.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1928: The canvas is stretched over the massive Zeppelin body.
On July 8, 1928, on the day of the 90th anniversary of Count Zeppelin, LZ 127 was solemnly baptized in his name by the count's only daughter, and the airship LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" made its first flight on September 18, 1928.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin": the return of the airship after the first flight over Germany in September 1928.
After the successful LZ 127 ride, the Graf Zeppelin returns to her home in Friedrichshafen.
In August-September 1929, the airship under the command of Hugo Eckener carried out the first round-the-world flight in the history of aeronautics.
The Commander of the "Count Zeppelin" Dr. Hugo Eckener.
Starting in Lakehurst, the Graf Zeppelin covered over 34,000 km in 20 days at an average flight speed of about 115 km / h, making only three intermediate landings - in Friedrichshafen, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Members of & quot; Hollandfahrt & quot; October 13, 1929 near the German airship LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" in a hangar in the city of Friedrichshafen.
The main purpose of the flight was to promote the capabilities of rigid airships, along with meteorological observations.
A letter sent from the Graf Zeppelin. The letter is addressed to Ms. Goldschalk, Amsteldijik 112, Amsterdam, Holland. Sent from LZ127 "Graf Zeppelin" en route Los Angeles to Friedrichshafen, 1929.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1929: A lady in her small bathroom aboard an airship.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1929: The airship flies over the von Hindenburg Presidential Palace.
From May 18 to June 6, 1930 "Graf Zeppelin" made a circular flight to South and North America.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1930: Airship over New York.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1930: Lakehurst, NJ USA
In 1931 the LZ 127 began regular flights to Brazil.
In 1936 the Graf Zeppelin opened the Friedrichshafen, Germany - Brazil / Argentina air service. The total travel time took 300 flight hours. The airship sailed to Brazil over France, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. The flight of the "Count Zeppelin" took place at low altitude and, therefore, made it possible to take photographs from the airship.
The Brazilian palm tree gives long shadows at sunset.
Flying through the palm grove.
Meeting of the airship with a Brazilian passenger ship.
After the successful flight “ Graf Zeppelin ” landed safely at Pernambuco State Airport.
Table setting in the spacious airship restaurant.
The famous commander * Graf Zeppelin * Dr. Ugo Eckener (1868-1954) in the wheelhouse.
Beginning in 1936, part of the flights to South America was assigned to the new LZ 129 Hindenburg Zeppelin, which opened an air line to North America (the technical capabilities of the Graf Zeppelin were insufficient for regular flights across the North Atlantic).
On September 10, 1930, the "Graf Zeppelin" flew to Moscow, and on July 26-30, 1931, for scientific purposes (unofficially also for reconnaissance), he flew over a significant part of the Soviet Arctic, while making detailed aerial photography. Soviet specialists were also on board. During this flight, the airship in the Tikhaya Bay of Hooker Island (Franz Josef Land) exchanged mail with the Soviet icebreaker Malygin.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1931: Approaching the Russian icebreaker "Malygin" in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Franz Josef Land for the ceremonial exchange of 50,000 postal items.
After the disaster of the Hindenburg airship, regular flights of the LZ 127 were discontinued. Soon the "Graf Zeppelin" was turned into a museum. The end of German airship construction came at the beginning of World War II, when in the spring of 1940, by order of the German command, the LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin", as well as the LZ 130 "Graf Zeppelin" of the same name (built in 1938 on the basis of the LZ 129 and often called the II ") were dismantled, and their parts were used in the military industry.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1936: in a new giant hangar.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1930: The airship flies over the Gulf of Guanabara, Brazil, May 25.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1930: Airship over Bergen, Norway.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1931: Airship over Giza.
LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" 1931: Airship over the British capital.