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Zeppelin LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin II

Zeppelin · Passenger / Intelligence-Gathering Rigid Airship / Passenger Transport / ELINT Missions over UK · Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)

Zeppelin LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin II — Passenger / Intelligence-Gathering Rigid Airship / Passenger Transport / ELINT Missions over UK
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LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin was the last of the German rigid airships built by Zeppelin Luftschiffbau during the period between the World Wars, the second and final ship of the Hindenburg class, and the second zeppelin to carry the name "Graf Zeppelin" and thus often referred to as Graf Zeppelin II. Due to the United States' refusal to export helium to Germany, the Graf Zeppelin II was inflated with hydrogen and therefore never carried commercial passengers. It made 30 flights over 11 months in 1938–39, many being propaganda publicity flights; staff of the Reich Air Ministry were aboard to conduct radio surveillance and measurements. The airship, along with LZ 127 were both scrapped in April 1940, and their duralumin framework salvaged to build aircraft for the Luftwaffe.

Specifications

Category
Airship
Sub-Category
Rigid Airship
Domain
Defence
Era
Interwar (1919–1938)
Country
Germany
Manufacturer
Zeppelin
Operator
Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei / Luftwaffe
Primary Role
Passenger / Intelligence-Gathering Rigid Airship / Passenger Transport / ELINT Missions over UK
Status
Retired
Service Entry
1938
Produced
1
Engine
4x Daimler-Benz DB 602 diesel
Thrust / Power
1,200 hp each
Launch
Ground (shed)
Length (ft)
803
Wingspan (ft)
135
MTOW (lb)
418000
Endurance (hr)
200
Range (mi)
8700
Max Speed (mph)
84
Armament
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