Comments on: Graf Zeppelin Design and Technology

By: Brian R Peterson

Brian R Peterson — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:40:16 +0000

In reply to Lopes. Yes. A minimum of 21 Mechanics were on each flight, which allowed for a three watch rotation in each of the five engine gondolas, plus three floaters for the Trim Watch rotation. Mechanics were on duty for 2 hours during the day and 3 hours at night.

By: Lopes

Lopes — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 03:04:44 +0000

Did the engine gondolas need to be maned 24/7 as I assume the control gondola needed to be?

By: Felix Sewina

Felix Sewina — Sun, 26 May 2019 22:59:32 +0000

I have a technical question. I have been fascinated by Airships / Zeppelins since my childhood. Did the Graf Zeppelin DLZ have any EXTERIOR lighting (such as beacon lights or search lights 1. at the nose of the ship or close to the cockpit and 2. At the tail / fins) at the end? If so, I would be interested to know, if they were clear plain white light or a red ones. I am currently buidling the Hawk 1/245th scale Graf Zeppelin DLZ 127 model. I can’t find any specific mention of this in research materials such as in Rick Archbold’s “Reliving the Era of Great Airships: Hindenburg” nor in Harold G. Dick’s work “The Golden Age of the Great Passenger Airships Graf Zeppelin & Hindenburg”. If anyone would have details regarding this aspect, I would be immensely grateful! On a side note / personal trivia; Prior to WWII, when my grandparents were young, they both saw the Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg over Essen, in the Ruhr region, during the ‘propaganda tours’ across Germany. They noted it was SPECTACULAR to see them in flight together. Congratulations! This is a great website. I enjoy the information, photos and many posts. Greetings from Canada.

By: Nick Hodgman

Nick Hodgman — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 04:52:48 +0000

In reply to jeffrey g. buchalco. The problem with that is that electrolysis requires energy input. Even if you utilized the hydrogen as a power source, you would likely run into ballast issues, as the ship would add weight while in flight.

By: Nick Hodgman

Nick Hodgman — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 04:46:12 +0000

In reply to jeffrey g. buchalco. Problem with that is that a electrolysis requires energy input. Even if the hydrogen in the gas cells was utilized as a power source, you'd likely have ballast issues, since it would add weight while in flight.

By: jeffrey g. buchalco

jeffrey g. buchalco — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 23:40:53 +0000

i would design my rigid airship to utilize an hho electrolyzer system to not only supply the gas bags, but to power the engines as well! the ‘water'(h2o) that would be the hydrogen source would also be utilized as ‘ballast’ (controllable) and would power the electrical generator(s?) as well for cooking, pumps to power the ‘trim’ controls and showers, radio, etc.! (redjeff53@gmail.com)

By: Tyler

Tyler — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:06:53 +0000

I would suggest mylar for gas cell material! For skin, anything that looks nice and is light. Perhaps mylar as well. It is heat sealable and very light.

Zeppelins 100th anniversary of passing!! Long live LTA!

By: Stuart

Stuart — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 01:11:08 +0000

Did the cabin layout change in the Graf over the years? There are photos out there on the internet from that time showing the starboard side of the gondola, towards the front. One photo shows the entry door where most of us recall – abaft the galley and before the salon. However, another photo clearly shows the entry door just aft the forward control room and ahead of the galley. Did DELAG alter the design of the ship? I was unable to paste the images on this posting unfortunately.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:00:26 +0000

Lets see,,,,
3520 pounds of potable water is about 422 gallons of water.

That’s not much for 24 passengers and crew on a three day jaunt across the “pond” to America, or a four to five day run down to Rio.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 03:50:12 +0000

In reply to Jonathan. Instead of using would wood you should consider carbon fiber struts or aluminum struts for the rigidity of the airship. I have found that using wood causes a major weight increase which leads to a rather odd shaped design; not very aerodynamic.