Zeppelin LZ1
| Zeppelin "LZ-1" | |
|---|---|
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| First Zeppelin flight shown above a boat at Lake Constance | |
| Role | Experimental airship |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Luftschifffahrt |
| Designer | Theodor Kober |
| First flight | 2 July 1900 |
| Status | Scrapped |
The Zeppelin LZ1 was the first truly successful experimental rigid airship, first flown from a floating hangar on Lake Constance, near Friedrichshafen in southern Germany, at 20:03[1] on 2 July 1900.[2]
"LZ" stood for Luftschiff Zeppelin, or "Airship Zeppelin" (from the name of its inventor).
[edit] Design and development
The LZ1 was 126 m (420 ft) in overall length, 11.4 m (38 ft) in diameter[2] and weighed 13 tons.[1] It was constructed using a cylindrical framework covered with smooth surfaced cotton cloth. Inside was a row of 17 gas cells each covered in rubberized cloth. The hydrogen gas capacity totaled 120,000m3 (400,000cubic ft).[2]
The airship was steered by forward and aft rudders and propulsion was provided by two 15-hp Daimler internal-combustion engines, each rotating two propellers. The airship also employed a 130 kg weight suspended beneath the hull that could be slid forward or aft to control its attitude and about 300 kg ballast.[1] Passengers and crew were carried in two 6.2 metre long aluminum gondolas suspended forward and aft.
[edit] Operational history
At its first trial the LZ-1 carried five persons attaining an altitude of 410 m (1300 ft) and flew a distance of 3.7miles (5.95 km) in 17 minutes, but the wind then forced an emergency landing on the water. After repairs the ship flew two more times showing its potential, beating the speed record then held by the French Army airship, La France, of 6 metres per second (22 km/h) by 3 metres per second (11 km/h), but this could not convince the possible investors.[1] Because funding was exhausted, Graf von Zeppelin had to dismantle the prototype, sell the scrap and tools and liquidate the company.[1]
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Length: 126 m (420 ft in)
- Diameter: 11.70 m (38 ft in)
- Volume: 120,000 m3 (400,000 ft3)
- Powerplant: 2 × Daimler piston engines, 11 kW (15 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 28 km/h (18 mph)
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: LZ 1 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e editors at de.wikipedia.org, de:Zeppelin#Der erste .E2.80.9EZeppelin.E2.80.9C
- ^ a b c Lueger, Otto: Lexikon der gesamten Technik und ihrer Hilfswissenschaften, Bd. 1 Stuttgart, Leipzig 1920., S. 404-412. Luftschiff
[edit] References
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 906.
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