Comments on: Graf Zeppelin Design and Technology http://www.airships.net The Graf Zeppelin, Hindenburg, U.S. Navy Airships, and other Dirigibles Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:19:12 +0000 hourly 1 By: Francisco Carvallo http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-6204 Francisco Carvallo Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:07:50 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-6204 Thank God for five engines Donald as Wikipedia passage bellow details: While the Graf Zeppelin would eventually have a safe and highly successful nine-year career, the airship was almost lost just a half a year after its maiden flight while attempting to make its second trip to the United States in May 1929. Shortly after dark on 16 May, the first night of the flight ("1. Amerikafahrt 1929"), the airship lost two of its five engines while over the Mediterranean off the southwest coast of Spain forcing Dr. Eckener to abandon the trip and return to Friedrichshafen. While flying up the Rhône Valley in France against a stiff headwind the next afternoon, however, two of the remaining three engines also failed and the airship began to be pushed backwards toward the sea. As Dr. Eckener desperately looked for a suitable place to crash-land the airship, the French Air Ministry advised him that he would be permitted to land at the Naval Airship Base at Cuers-Pierrefeu about ten miles from Toulon to use the mooring mast and hangar of the lost airship Dixmude (France's only dirigible which crashed in the Mediterranean in 1923 resulting in the loss of 52 lives) if the Graf could reach the facility before being blown out to sea. Although barely able to control the Graf on its one remaining engine, Eckener managed to make a difficult but successful emergency night landing at Cuers. Thank God for five engines Donald as Wikipedia passage bellow details:
While the Graf Zeppelin would eventually have a safe and highly successful nine-year career, the airship was almost lost just a half a year after its maiden flight while attempting to make its second trip to the United States in May 1929. Shortly after dark on 16 May, the first night of the flight (“1. Amerikafahrt 1929″), the airship lost two of its five engines while over the Mediterranean off the southwest coast of Spain forcing Dr. Eckener to abandon the trip and return to Friedrichshafen. While flying up the Rhône Valley in France against a stiff headwind the next afternoon, however, two of the remaining three engines also failed and the airship began to be pushed backwards toward the sea.

As Dr. Eckener desperately looked for a suitable place to crash-land the airship, the French Air Ministry advised him that he would be permitted to land at the Naval Airship Base at Cuers-Pierrefeu about ten miles from Toulon to use the mooring mast and hangar of the lost airship Dixmude (France’s only dirigible which crashed in the Mediterranean in 1923 resulting in the loss of 52 lives) if the Graf could reach the facility before being blown out to sea. Although barely able to control the Graf on its one remaining engine, Eckener managed to make a difficult but successful emergency night landing at Cuers.

]]> By: Francisco Carvallo http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-6203 Francisco Carvallo Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:33:54 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-6203 Hi Dan! I also believe that the USS Akron/Macon twins had heated interiors. they also had hot/cold water and unlike the Hindenburg a few showers instead of just one and a propane burning oven to prepare food (something good old H2 prevented the Hindenburg from having). Cheers! Hi Dan!

I also believe that the USS Akron/Macon twins had heated interiors. they also had hot/cold water and unlike the Hindenburg a few showers instead of just one and a propane burning oven to prepare food (something good old H2 prevented the Hindenburg from having).
Cheers!

]]> By: rick V http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-5470 rick V Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:29:16 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-5470 how much could an airship be operated by the auxillerly control car in the tail? how much could an airship be operated by the auxillerly control car in the tail?

]]> By: Nicolas Uribe http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-4138 Nicolas Uribe Tue, 11 May 2010 14:08:37 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-4138 Great site! I've been an airship freak all my life, and thought I'd read everything available on the internet - till now. Great site!
I’ve been an airship freak all my life, and thought I’d read everything available on the internet – till now.

]]> By: Martin Winlow http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-4081 Martin Winlow Thu, 06 May 2010 11:08:28 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-4081 Hi - Fabulous site - I only ask that the photos be provided at greater resolution (if possible). It seems to me that the airship will once more grace our skies as fossil fuels decline in use due to cost and environmental considerations but more so because of the natural synergy of acres of skin combined with low cost/high efficiency photovoltaic cell technology (light weight, high energy density lithium-air batteries for night flight). Jet travel will be for the very rich only and if you want to get to from London to Sydney quickly, then it'll be Richard Branson's sub-orbital passenger space craft that'll take you there in less than 3 hours - for a price! Oh yes, and we'll all be driving around in electric cars. All this within the next 50 years... Hi – Fabulous site – I only ask that the photos be provided at greater resolution (if possible).

It seems to me that the airship will once more grace our skies as fossil fuels decline in use due to cost and environmental considerations but more so because of the natural synergy of acres of skin combined with low cost/high efficiency photovoltaic cell technology (light weight, high energy density lithium-air batteries for night flight).

Jet travel will be for the very rich only and if you want to get to from London to Sydney quickly, then it’ll be Richard Branson’s sub-orbital passenger space craft that’ll take you there in less than 3 hours – for a price!

Oh yes, and we’ll all be driving around in electric cars.

All this within the next 50 years…

]]> By: James http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-3898 James Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:44:21 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-3898 Though fasinating it seems to be one of the most impractible forms of tranportation and i love these things.But 200 + ground crew hydrogen alot of science mabye today the very rich could perfect it but then it was quite expensive for a fare back then. let me know what you think? i love your website James Though fasinating it seems to be one of the most impractible forms of tranportation and i love these things.But 200 + ground crew hydrogen alot of science mabye today the very rich could perfect it but then it was quite expensive for a fare back then. let me know what you think? i love your website James

]]> By: Dan (Airships.net) http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-3849 Dan (Airships.net) Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:33:09 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-3849 Along the keel, inside the hull of the ship. Along the keel, inside the hull of the ship.

]]> By: John http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-3800 John Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:27:57 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-3800 Where did the crew live/sleep etc? Where did the crew live/sleep etc?

]]> By: Jerin http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-3454 Jerin Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:35:14 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-3454 I am probably mistaken, but the rearmost engine car seems to have restricted the Graf's overall diameter, according to that hangar diagram. If they had scrapped said engine, could the zeppelin builders have increased her volume? I am probably mistaken, but the rearmost engine car seems to have restricted the Graf’s overall diameter, according to that hangar diagram. If they had scrapped said engine, could the zeppelin builders have increased her volume?

]]> By: Kyle Kepley http://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/design-technology#comment-3347 Kyle Kepley Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:06:11 +0000 http://www.airships.net/?page_id=979#comment-3347 Wow, where did you get these photos? I have a shelf full of zeppelin books and have never seen these. That closeup of the cover stitching and the room full of engine pods under construction... amazing! I've always wished that someone with a bunch of money would build a real zeppelin using the traditional methods and make a museum out of it. It wouldn't even need to fly and portions of the covering on one side could be left off to display the framework. Imagine what an amazing sight that would be. I wonder if there are enough records of the original construction techniques to even make that possible? Wow, where did you get these photos? I have a shelf full of zeppelin books and have never seen these. That closeup of the cover stitching and the room full of engine pods under construction… amazing!

I’ve always wished that someone with a bunch of money would build a real zeppelin using the traditional methods and make a museum out of it. It wouldn’t even need to fly and portions of the covering on one side could be left off to display the framework. Imagine what an amazing sight that would be. I wonder if there are enough records of the original construction techniques to even make that possible?

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