science · 14 March 1899 · 125 years ago
In 1899, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin was issued a U.S. patent for his invention of his “Navigable Balloon,” the rigid airship, known as the Zeppelin (No. 621,195). The overall cylindrical shape with rounded ends was covered with a cotton shell, framed with aluminium struts, wire-braced and contained a number of independent hydrogen balloons used for lift. Two or more seperate engines were suspended below for propulsion. He had earlier patented it in Germany, 31 Aug 1895, titled, “Lenkbarer Luftfahrzug” (steerable air-cruising train), referred to a feature whereby additional cylindrical mid-segments could be connected together for a longer airship with greater carrying capacity, though none were ever made in this form. He made his first flight with the LZ-1 on 2 Jul 1900 over Lake Constance, Germany.
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