FAQ
The Frequently Asked Questions listed here will be expanded over time. For basic information about airships, we recommend Wikipedia. If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact us and we will respond as soon as we are able.
All images are courtesy ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co KG und Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH, and may not be used without permission.
The Zeppelin NT07
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What is an airship?
Is this a blimp?
Zeppelin as in "Zeppelin"? They're still around?
Does this have anything to do with Led Zeppelin? Are they getting back together?
Are airships dangerous?
What happens if it gets a puncture?
Can it fly in any weather?
Do you already have the Zeppelin?
How will you get it here?
What will I be able to see?
What will I be able to do?
What will my friends/family be able to do if they come with me to the terminal?
I want to fly! How do I get my name on the list?!
Why are some people getting priority on tickets?
I'm interested in obtaining tickets for a charity auction/for charitable purposes.
I'm interested in partnering with you to offer flights with other travel packages, or to sell your tickets.
I'm interested in using the Zeppelin for media purposes.
I'm interested in using the Zeppelin for surveillance/eye-in-the-sky purposes.
I'm interested in advertising/promotions/appearances of the Zeppelin.
I'm interested in buying a Zeppelin NT07.
Who are you people?
Is this really going to happen?
Can I work for you?
An airship is an aircraft where most or all of the lift comes from a lighter than air gas rather than from the movement of a wing or rotor through the air. Modern airships use the inert gas Helium for lift. Airships are typically propelled by two or more engines. Airships have a fascinating history in both general aviation and military aviation, including a number of 'firsts' such as traveling around the world.
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No. While externally Zeppelins and blimps look quite alike, and indeed its not uncommon to hear people talking about zeppelins when they mean blimps, there is a significant difference. A blimp does not have an internal rigid frame. This means that typically the engines have to be mounted to the gondola. In a Zeppelin, the engines are mounted to the frame on the side of the hull, where they are both more effective, and quieter than their gondola mounted counterparts on blimps.
The old Zeppelins had completely rigid hulls with the lighter than air gas in giant gas bags inside the hull. Indeed, the giant passenger Zeppelins of pre 1940 had rooms built within the hull and you could take a tour of the massive structure! The New Technology Zeppelin has a rigid structure comprising three longitudinal beams (longerons) to hold the engines, tail and gondola, but the hull itself is the gas bag.
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Zeppelin as in "Zeppelin"? They're still around?
Yes. The Zeppelin Foundation is 100 years old in 2008. From the beginnings of building airships, a major multi billion dollar manufacturing empire was born, although only relatively recently did they start to manufacture airships again.
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Does this have anything to do with Led Zeppelin? Are they getting back together?
No, and not that we know of. But you can read about an interesting coincidence on our blog.
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Airships got a bad name in 1937 with the Hindenburg accident. That airship used hydrogen as its lifting gas, which contributed to the explosion. Airships today use helium, a gas that is safe enough to be used in party balloons and is not flammable.
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What happens if it gets a puncture?
The airship hull is full of helium gas under a very slight positive pressure to maintain the shape of the hull. What this means is that if there is a puncture, the gas doesn't come hissing out under great pressure giving the pilot plenty of time to bring the ship down using the engines.
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While a Zeppelin can operate in conditions similar to that of a small airplane, we will only fly the Zeppelin when it is possible to enjoy the view. We will not fly tours on very windy days, or during a rainstorm. Every passenger will be required to give a contact number so that they can be reached on the day of their flight (or before if we have good enough confidence in the weather information) and informed about their flight status. In many cases there could simply be a short delay while the weather passes. If the flight has to be cancelled, all passengers will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
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Do you already have the Zeppelin?
It's currently being built at Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik in Germany. Here's their webcam, so that you can watch it. (Remember the time zone difference if you are wondering why it looks awfully quiet!)
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There will be three components to the transfer. Step one will be to get it from Friedrichshafen to somewhere on the coast of Europe. Step two is to cross the Atlantic and step three is to fly it from the East Coast of the USA to San Francisco. Exactly where it flies in Europe and where it leaves Europe will depend on how we get it across the Atlantic. Unlike the original huge transatlantic Zeppelins, the NT doesn't carry enough fuel to make it in one hop. There are three or four ways we could do the crossing and we're currently working with Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik to determine the optimum method. The trans-USA flight route will depend primarily on the weather, although we expect we will get an enthusiastic welcome wherever we fly! As things get firmed up, we'll let you know.
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Flying at 500 to 1000 ft above the ground, you will have a bird's-eye view of famous landmarks (such as the Golden Gate bridge, Coit Tower, Alcatraz, etc in the San Francisco Area). You will be able to look down upon traffic jams, industrial parks and shopping malls and you will also see wildlife, geology, the water and get to know about the weather. Depending on our route, if you are local, it may even be possible for you to see your house or business!
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You only have to remain seated for take off and landing,. Other than that, you will be able to walk around the cabin, sit in the large rear window seat, open the windows, take pictures and video and have conversations. The Zeppelin is very quiet. You won't have to wear ear protection like you do in a helicopter. On our longer flights, we will offer complimentary in-flight refreshments as well as your post flight celebratory refreshments. And yes, there is a toilet on board!
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What will my friends/family be able to do if they come with me to the terminal?
There will be a visitor experience with café, gift store and some displays and exhibits — plenty to do while you wait for your flight. Before each flight, passengers will undergo a safety and information briefing before traveling out to the airship.
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I want to fly! How do I get my name on the list?!
We know that a large number of people will want to be among the first to experience the Zeppelin NT in the USA. As the passenger capacity is 12 people per flight, there will be a limited number of tickets available in the first year (a few thousand).
We are not able to sell tickets until the ship is here. At that time we will release tickets for specific flights in stages. We will be establishing a number of methods for people to gain priority for booking tickets. Further information will be posted shortly. Sign up for our mailing list to be notified when opportunities become available.
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Why are some people getting priority on tickets?
There are always a number of challenges associated with doing something new and innovative. Our priority passengers will have shown enthusiastic support for our venture at a critical time. To show our appreciation, we will want to offer them the opportunity to fly at the earliest availability.
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I'm interested in obtaining tickets for a charity auction/for charitable purposes.
Please send us full information about your event and what impact you believe the donation would have, and we will consider your request.
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Please send us information on your travel/experience company, and tell us why we should partner with you.
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I'm interested in using the Zeppelin for media purposes.
The Zeppelin is a very versatile platform. Please send us your information and details about your specific interest and we will get back to you.
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I'm interested in using the Zeppelin for surveillance/eye-in-the-sky purposes.
The Zeppelin is a very versatile platform. Please send us your information and details about your specific interest and we will get back to you.
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I'm interested in advertising/promotions/appearances of the Zeppelin.
The Zeppelin is a very versatile platform. Please send us your information and details about your specific interest and we will get back to you.
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I'm interested in buying a Zeppelin NT07.
The Zeppelin is a very versatile platform. Please send us your information and details about your specific interest and we will get back to you.
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We are a group of individuals with a common enthusiasm for airships and particularly the Zeppelin NT. We also are users of high end visitor experiences ourselves and we have a vision to provide an intimate and high quality experience for all our passengers. You can get a feel about the things that excite us by reading our blog and you can read more about us professionally on the Company web pages.
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Is this really going to happen?
Do you think we'd list this question and then answer it "no"?
Like all ventures that are blazing new ground, it's not without some risk. Bringing a new aviation vehicle to the USA takes a lot of paperwork! While we are confident that the major regulatory hurdles have been crossed or are in process of being crossed, there is still the potential for delay (availability of a part for example, or a month of unusually bad weather when we were planning to be flying the airship here). We'll be posting regular progress reports. Make sure you sign up to get them!
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See our Careers page. You never know!
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Our first ship will be based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
At this time we can tell you that we will have a home base with a hangar which we will use for shelter from inclement weather, the annual inspection, some maintenance and for when we need to apply graphics to the hull. On occasion, we may fly from this location.
We will also have a main daily operations base where our passenger facilities, café, gift store, etc will be based and a number of satellite locations where we will be able to operate from for particular themed tours.
We will be announcing a number of important milestones over the coming months. Make sure to sign up for our mailing list to keep up to date.
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