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right|thumb|View from cockpit of a Zeppelin NT

The Zeppelin NT ("Neue Technologie", German for new technology) is a class of helium-filled airships being manufactured since the 1990s by the German company Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH (ZLT) in Friedrichshafen.

There are various roles for the Zeppelin NT; traditional roles have been aerial tourism purposes and for conducting passenger services. The Zeppelin NT have also been used for observation platforms, such as for aerial photographers and by television commentators covering major events. Due to their capability for low-vibration flight for up to 24 hours at a time, ZLT considers the airships suitable for research missions for environmental observation, troposphere research and natural resource prospecting. The envelope of the airship has also been used for advertising purposes.

Development

The modern development and construction embodied by the Zeppelin NT had been financed by a long-standing endowment, which had been initially funded with money left over from the earlier Zeppelin company, that had been under the trusteeship of the Mayor of Friedrichshafen. A stipulation had been placed upon the endowment that limited the use of its funds to the field of airships. Over the many years, the investment value of the endowment grew to a point where it had become viable for the funds to be put to use for the purpose of designing, developing, and constructing of a new generation of Zeppelins.

In 1988, the first considerations into the technological and economic feasibility of reviving the Zeppelin industry began; this included examinations of historic Zeppelin documentation as well as current designs for airships. In December 1990, a feasibility study and accompanying market research program found an initial sales potential for around eighty Zeppelin airships for purposes such as tourism, advertising, and scientific research. In mid 1991, the newly formed development team filed several patents on various technologies that would be later used on the subsequent airship, these included propeller arrangements, structure and girder design, and ballonet implementation. In July 1996, the under-construction prototype of the Zeppelin N07 was presented to the public and the media.

On 8 August 1998, the Zeppelin N07 prototype performed a cross-country flight via Altenrhein, Switzerland to Echterdingen near Stuttgart, Germany; at the end of this journey, the prototype also accomplished its first masting away from Friedrichshafen upon landing at Stuttgart Airport.

In May 1999, the production of the components for the first production airship was started. The Zeppelin N07, the base model and most commonly constructed to date, are long, with a volume of .

The Zeppelin NT, designed more than 60 years after the last generation of Zeppelins were built and making use of advances in material science and computer-aided design, is claimed to overcome some of the typical maneuverability, safety, and economic disadvantages of airships. Additionally, the structure is tightened with aramid cords to provide for extra rigidity. All major components, such as the engines, control cabin and the steering fins, are mounted upon the structure; this allows maneuverability to be maintained even in the event of envelope pressure being lost. The whole structure weighs only about .

On the external surfaces of the Zeppelin NT are several equipment attachment points, including multiple hardpoints present for the purpose of installing cameras of up to 65&nbsp;kg weight; an optional nose-mounted boom can be installed for attaching sensor equipment or scientific probes. Payloads can also be suspended underneath the airship via a cargo hook arrangement using the floor hatch present in the cabin. Due to the center of gravity and the location of the cabin being different, two sets of non-retractable landing gear are installed on the underside of the airship, the forward set being directly attached to the cabin's underside and the aft set upon the primary structure itself.

Propulsion and steering

right|thumb|Side thrusters visible on approach

Power for the Zeppelin NT's propulsion systems is provided by a trio of Textron Lycoming IO-360 boxer aviation engines, fueled by standard aviation gasoline. These engines are mounted on the sides and rear of the structure itself to provide optimum efficiency; this arrangement also increases in-flight comfort due to reduced levels of propeller noise and vibration. Each engine is furnished with separate fuel tanks and supply systems that typically operate independently of one another.

The swiveling propellers have been claimed to have provided the Zeppelin NT with unusual flight characteristics, such as being able to hover precisely, fly backwards, take off vertically, and turn on its axis. The functionality of the swiveling propellers allows the Zeppelin NT to carry out both take-offs and landing operations entirely in the vertical plane. During such operations, only three ground personnel are required, lowering costs and minimizing turnaround times as a consequence. In 2010, development of an improved propeller capable of quieter operation was completed. This arrangement not only saves weight, but as a side effect, the loss of one fin can be compensated with the remaining two. The aerodynamically balanced rudders are equipped with independent electrical actuators. The Zeppelin NT is certified for single pilot operations; the second seat is often used by a flight attendant during tourist operations. Elements of the airship's avionics, including navigation, communication, and air data systems, can be directly interfaced with the mission support systems; an 8kVA additional electrical power system is also present.

The base model of the Zeppelin NT has a passenger capacity of 12 in addition to a crew of two; alternatively, it is capable of lifting payloads of up to . In contrast, the original Zeppelin designs carried over a hundred passengers and crew, with a nearly even ratio of passengers to crew members. The Zeppelin NT has been equipped with a variable cabin structure, allowing it to be quickly changed for various purposes and missions. Amongst the possible seating configurations, more luxurious VIP layouts are also available. Alternatively, mission equipment can be installed in the cabin area.

Operational history

thumb|The [[German Aerospace Center|DLR Zeppelin NT was used to study traffic patterns.]]

Seven Zeppelin NTs have been built to date.

D-LZFN, Friedrichshafen

thumb|Zeppelin NT (D-LZFN) of [[Friedrichshafen]]

The prototype Zeppelin NT (SN 01), D-LZFN, Friedrichshafen, was intended to be used for training pilots for special flights and for presentations. During the Oktoberfest of 2002 a Zeppelin NT was used for radio experiments in connection with the European Galileo positioning system project for the German Aerospace Center and the ESA. It was intended that all further ships would be used commercially or sold. As a tribute to the days of Zeppelin mail, a number of mail-carrying flights were planned. Steve Fossett and Paul Stroehle set the current speed record for airships over a distance of one kilometer on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 in Friedrichshafen, Germany with a Zeppelin NT. The new world record was set to , an improvement of .

Starting in late 2005 the Friedrichshafen was based in Jwaneng, a diamond mining town in southern Botswana, where it conducted an airborne geophysical survey on behalf of De Beers Prospecting Botswana. The airship was moved from Amsterdam to Cape Town by ship and then flown to Gaborone where a Lockheed Martin full tensor gravity gradiometer was installed. This instrument, owned and operated by Bell Geospace, measures changes in the Earth's gravity field associated with geological density variations. The technology is based on accelerometers and the data quality is sensitive to the turbulence and motion usually associated with fixed wing aircraft installations. The airship, flying slowly at night in relatively cool calm air, provides a very stable and vibrationally quiet platform. The resulting data is capable of revealing the rather faint gravity signals associated with Kimberlite pipes – a source of diamonds – buried under the Kalahari sands. This survey came to an end on 20 September 2007, when D-LZFN was irreparably damaged by a whirlwind while moored at its mast.

Registration number D-LZFN, was later given to SN 02 when it returned from Japan.

D-LZZR, Bodensee

thumb|Airship D-LZZR during low level flight, 2003

The second Zeppelin NT and first production model (SN 02) was named D-LZZR Bodensee and began the first commercial tourist operations on August 15, 2001 by Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei (DZR). On March 2, 2004 the DZR sold it to Nippon Airship Corporation in Japan. Transferred in June 2004, it was to have followed the historical route of the 1929 World Tour of the famous dirigible LZ127 Graf Zeppelin. After problems with Russian authorities (unattested air security), a special ship for huge parts from the Netherlands was chartered and the Zeppelin was shipped from Italy to Japan by sea. The company used the airship mainly for tours and advertising. In May 2010, due to economic problems at Nippon Airship Corporation, the SN 02 was shipped back to Germany. The craft regained her old name Bodensee and resumed passenger operations in 2012.

D-LZNT, Eureka

In January 2006, the Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH announced the start of construction of a fourth Zeppelin N07. In 2007, it was optioned by California-based Airship Ventures. On 21 May 2008, the new airship completed its first flight. Between July and September 2008, the airship, registered D-LZNT, operated sightseeing and pleasure flights over eastern London and the Thames Estuary from an airfield close to Upminster, in Essex, England, advertising Stella Artois beer and the DrinkAware responsible alcohol use campaign. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the type certificate for the Zeppelin N07, allowing the airship to fly legally in the United States. In late September 2008, the airship arrived at the Port of Beaumont, Texas; after spending three days tethered at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport, the airship flew cross-country to its base at Moffett Federal Airfield. Upon its arrival, the airship was given the US registration N704LZ, and was christened Eureka (after the California state motto). In November 2008, Airship Ventures began commercial operations, offering flightseeing tours over the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas, operating both out of Moffett Field and Oakland Terminal. On 14 November 2012, Airship Ventures ceased operations and grounded Eureka. Eureka was disassembled and shipped back to Germany. In 2019-2020, D-LZNT was rebuilt to N07-101 -standard and brought back to service, with a completely new gondola for 16 passengers and crew.

Goodyear

thumb|300px|[[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear's Wingfoot One, a model LZ N07-101, shown here prior to its christening]]

On 3 May 2011, Goodyear confirmed their intentions to reinstate their long-lost partnership with Zeppelin. Goodyear placed an order for three Zeppelin NT LZ N07-101 models with plans to start operation in January 2014. The Zeppelin NT is the successor to Goodyear's non-rigid airship, the GZ-20 in Goodyear airship advertising. Goodyear's first zeppelin, Wingfoot One, was unveiled on 14 March 2014 and is currently stationed in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA. The second zeppelin, Wingfoot Two made its maiden flight on 12 March 2016. Wingfoot Two is stationed in Carson, California. The third zeppelin, Wingfoot Three made its maiden flight on 25 June 2018 and will be permanently stationed in Suffield Township, Ohio.

Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei

In January 2001, ZLG founded the Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei (DZR) (German for German Zeppelin shipping company) as a subsidiary. Since 15 August 2001, DZR has offered aerial sightseeing tours using a number of Zeppelin NT airships; in June 2010, the 100,000th passenger was carried, less than nine years after commercial operations were launched.

;LZ N07-101

:Slightly improved version produced since 2011. New avionics and slightly longer gondola increasing max passenger capacity to 14. Goodyear ships are seated for ten passengers, with addition of on-board toilet.

;Zeppelin NT 14

:Planned larger, 19-seat aircraft. The "14" comes from the of envelope volume.

Specifications

thumb|The gondola of a Zeppelin NT

thumb|The rear propeller arrangement of a Zeppelin NT

See also

  • Buoyancy compensator (aviation)
  • Goodyear Blimp
  • Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander 10

References

Citations

References

  • Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. .
  • Sträter, Bernd. Zeppelin NT, in: Khoury, G.A.: Airship Technology. Cambridge, 2nd Edition, 2012 pp.&nbsp;547–576. .
  • Carnet de Vol — Zeppelin NT Company : Friedrichshafen Flights, Zeppelin NT in the World and Technical Data
  • — manufacturers' homepage
  • — trips to Friedrichshafen and Zeppelin NT airship flights
  • — booking joyrides with Zeppelin NT airships in Germany
  • Airship Ventures Inc. — U.S. company operating a Zeppelin NT in California