The Airships
Throughout the 19th century, long-distance air travel remained an unlikely
dream. The aeroplane had not been invented and hot air balloons could
still not arrive at a desired destination unless the wind blew in the
right direction. But as the century turned, the best prospect for conquering
the skies lay in gigantic, powered flying machines: the airships.
Behind every one of these giants is a story of passion and political intrigue, none more so than those that became national symbols. In the quest for global supremacy, they revolutionised warfare, and their story remains today among the most controversial in the history of flight.
These edited transcripts are enhanced with links to relevant websites, plus a section of more websites and books that will help you take your interest further.
- Lift-off
From Count von Zeppelin’s first airships to the transatlantic crossing of the Los Angeles in 1924 - Ship of dreams
From the formation of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company to the crash of Britain’s R101 in 1930 - Forced landing
From the construction of the Akron to the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, World War II and the future of the airship - Find out more
