LZ 10 Schwaben

Updated on Dec 08, 2023

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LZ 10 Schwaben was a German rigid airship built by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin in 1911 and operated by DELAG (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft) for passenger service. It is regarded as the first commercially successful passenger-carrying aircraft.

Design

The Schwaben was 140.21 m (460 ft) long, 14 metres (46 ft) in diameter and with a lifting gas volume of 17,800 m³ (628,000 cu ft). It was powered by three 108 kW (145 hp) Maybach engines giving a maximum speed of 76 km/h (47 mph). Schwaben was the first to use these engines, which were used to drive most later Zeppelins. The cylindrical hull structure was braced by a triangular keel running most of its length, which was widened to accommodate amidships the passenger cabin, which a capacity of 20 people. Two gondolas were suspended from the keel: the forward gondola containing the control position and one engine, and the aft gondola containing the remaining two engines. The engines drove two pairs of aluminium-bladed propellers mounted on brackets either side of the hull.

Operating history

The LZ 10 made her first flight on June 26, 1911 and was put into service three weeks later, on July 16, 1911. She was called the "lucky airship" because she was more successful than any of the previous craft that DELAG had put into service, and was the first commercially successful passenger aircraft in history. Over the course of the next year she made 218 flights, transporting 1,553 passengers. among whom were Crown Prince Wilhelm and his wife. The Prince, who had a pilot's license, travelled in the control car, while the Princess and her attendants occupied the passenger cabin for a flight over Berlin.

Schwaben was destroyed in a gale on June 28, 1912 at the airfield near Düsseldorf, The wind prevented it being put into its shed, and it broke loose from its moorings and broke its back. The hydrogen was ignited by spark caused by static electricity accumulated in the rubberised cotton gasbags: in moments the entire ship had been burnt. Sources differ regarding injuries suffered: the New York Times reported "34 soldiers were injured"; others claimed either 30 or 40 injured.