The first zeppelin airship to take to the skies made its maiden flight on this day in 1900.

On July 2, 1900, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s first airship, LZ-1, left its floating hangar for an 18 minute flight over the Bodensee (Lake Constance) in southern Germany.

(You can read more about the first zeppelins, and the differences between dirigibles, zeppelins, and blimps.)

Just a few years of this pioneering flight the world’s first airline began carrying passengers in zeppelin airships.

Happy Birthday, zeppelins.  You’ve come a long way.  🙂