News: since 1997 > Visit the Zeppelin NT website.

News: 1995-1997 > See below

18 September 1997

The Zeppelin NT made its first flight at 18:45, Friedrichshafen time.

1996: Zeppelin NT to grow in size
From: Eric Brothers

A reliable report out of Germany last week says that the Zeppelin NT is growing by 6.5 meters to an approximate length of 75m. Through this, the approx. volume is increasing from 7,200 cu. m. to 8,200 cu. m. The larger dimensions are achieved through an additional cylindrical element near the airship's maximum girth.

The official report explains the addition is being made in response to end-users' needs for greater payload capacity and for sufficient fuel reserves for longer flights.

There will be no need for additional type approval, which is being accomplished under the current prototype status.

The enlarged airship is still scheduled to make its debut at AERO 97 next spring. When weather conditions permit, the airship is to be flown from its construction site to a mast at the Friedrichshafen airport (in nearby Lowenthal) from where test flights will begin.

The airship's envelope, made by ILC-Dover, is already at Friedrichshafen. An additional connecting piece is being fabricated to cover the ship's lengthened mid section. This will be installed on site in the manner previously devised for connecting the fore and aft sections of envelope over the rigid framework.

1996: Zeppelin NT
From: Jacob Munkhammar

From the German quarterly magazine "FORM - Zeitschrift für Gestaltung", issue 154/155, 2/3 1996. Written by Armin Scharf.:

"From next year on, there will be a new roar in the sky. For from 1997 onwards a Zeppelin will once again float through the air, bringing back to life a principle regarded dead for around 60 years. But only the name, the principle of the frame for rigidity and the overall shape of the "Zeppelin NT" are reminiscent of its huge ancestors which once flew half way around the globe. The technology, materials and construction of the "NT" in contrast are highly modern - and promise to make the airship an interesting, environmentally friendly and spectacular aircraft of the future. A first glance at the as yet "unwrapped" ship is available from 2nd July - then, namely, the new Zeppelin museum will be opened at the Friedrichshafen port after many years conversion work. The special highlight of the museum: an accurate reconstruction of a segment of the LZ 129 "Hindenburg" which crashed in 1937. More about the Zeppelin in the next form."

27 July 1995
VideoActiv@aol.com / Don Campbell:

The first of three presentations from Zeppelin Luftschfftecknik focused on their experience gaining compliance to FAA and German air administration rules and regs fro airships. This presentation offered the closest thing to an overall design review of the projected LZ NT (New Technology) airship series. One of the design goals of the Zepp ship is to eliminate the need for a ballast system, this placed new considerations to the existing certification process, encouraging Zeppelin and the German authorities to develop a new set of criteria for certification of their ship.

The first of the new Zeppelins to be built, the LZ N07 will be a full scale prototype of the company's innovative semi-ridig approach to modern airship design. The N07 envelope is built around a triangular structural frame, inscribed within the circumference of the hull fabric. 3 horizontal spars or longerons run the entire length of the envelope connecting the vertices of the 11 vertical triangular trusses, which are also supported by other internal cross-bracing. All of the dirigible's control surfaces and propulsion units as well as the gondola are supported by the ships rigid frame.

Helium is contained within the envelop in three separate cells. Overall displacement is listed at 7,200 cubic meters for a gross lift of 6,950 kg. Zeppelin projects a a payload capacity of 1,850 kg, and the gondola will carry 14; 2 crew and up to 12 passengers.

Two forward propellors vectorable to 120 degrees and with reversible pitch control. In the after, a single engine drives two props, a large vectorable fan facing to the rear or straight down, and a smaller prop horizontally mounted at ninety degrees to the centerline.