Zeppelin NT
The Zeppelin NT is a 246-foot long semi-rigid airship inflated with helium. The Zeppelin NT made its first flight on September 18, 1997, and when configured for sightseeing and tourism it can accommodate up to 12 passengers and two pilots. (NT stands for Neue Technologie, in German, or New Technology, in English.)
The semi-rigid airship is built around a framework of aluminum and high-strength, lightweight carbon-fiber, onto which the cabin, engines, and tail assembly are mounted; this arrangement provides structural support for the key components of the airship, and provides safe and stable flight performance, including a quiet and comfortable ride for the passengers. While the Zeppelin NT is longer than a Boeing 747 airliner, its primary structure weighs only about 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) due to the high-tech materials used in its construction.
The Zeppelin NT is inflated with approximately 300,000 cubic feet (8,425 cubic meters) of helium, contained in a strong envelope made of high-strength multilayer laminate.
The Zeppelin NT is driven by three gasoline-powered 4-cylinder Lycoming IO-360 piston engines, which have proven their reliability in decades of use in small private planes. Three of the ship’s four propellers can swivel up to 120 degrees, which greatly increases the maneuverability of the Zeppelin NT, which is capable of vertical take-offs, stable hovering, and even backward flight. The ship can fly at a maximum speed of 78 MPH, but usually cruises at about half that speed when used for sightseeing and tourism.
Passengers can take sightseeing flights over San Francisco and Germany provided by Airship Ventures and the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei. A company providing Zeppelin NT flights in Japan went bankrupt in May, 2010.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey I just suddenly got re-interested in airships about two hours ago (after several years of not-so-intensive admiration for airships) and I have this question I havent been able to answer by myself or using the internet. I am familiar with the fact, that modern airships use helium or hot air just to make them super-light while engines do the rest of the job. So here comes the question: Are there any modern airships, that would use engine(s) powered by solar panels attached to the semi-rigid construction. And would it even be possible to generate enough electricity on an airship comparable in size and wight to the Zeppelin NT?
[Reply]
Hendrick Stoops Reply:
December 4th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
It’s a neat concept, but you’d need all rigid framework to hold them up, the only other problem is possibly weight (I don’t know how much they weigh so it might not be a problem) but that could be very ecenomic with something in the style of the old WW1 height climbers, which could fly above large cloud cover. Not really ascociated, but a picture of the R101 looks like it has solar panels on top! (of course just the style of outer covering but still, maybe a premonition:))…
[Reply]
Is the graphic something that was used for promotional purposes only, or is this zeppelin owned by Disney?
[Reply]
Dan (Airships.net) Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 9:32 am
The images and logos carried by Eureka are paid advertising; the ship is owned by Airship Ventures.
[Reply]
How is the NT14 coming along?? (19 passenger) Is this project still a go??
[Reply]
I have long been interested in Lighter than air vehicles. Though this is actually a heavier than air craft it is winderful to see them back in the air and carrying passengers. Well Done!!
[Reply]
Kevin Olson Reply:
July 31st, 2010 at 12:50 pm
I don’t understand your comment about this being a heavier-than-air craft. It’s not. It’s a semi-rigid airship filled with helium, which provides the lift.
[Reply]
Carl Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:14 am
The Helium provides “only” 95% of the Lift. About 5% have to be given by arodynamical force. This fact makes sure, that the Zeppelin returns back.
[Reply]
A very, very interesting Blog.
Greetings
[Reply]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
ich bin aus der Republik Armenien. Ich habe an der Agraruniversität der Republik Armenien studiert und vom 2. April bis 31. Dezember 2008 habe ich Zeppelin Service Engineer qualification programme erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Ich beherrsche die Deutsche Sprache und träume von einer kurzfristigen Arbeit in Deutschland, was für meine Fortbildung sehr nützlich wäre. Wenn es möglich ist, könnten Sie mir bitte schreiben, ob ich bei Ihnen arbeiten darf.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Gagik Nahapetyan (27 Jahre alt)
[Reply]