Globetrotter LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin

After the success of LZ 126, LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin, which was completed in 1928, was supposed to prove and advertise the capability of Zeppelins as long-distance passenger ships. Despite innovations in materials and propulsion, its construc­tion mostly corresponded to the last Zeppelins of the war. lt was not possible to finance a new construction, even in spite of an organised public furidraising campaign, the "Zeppelin Eckener donation'. In addition there was a lack of time for the development as the ship had to be completed before the new British commercial airships. Until its decornmissioning in 1937, LZ 127 made 590 flights, covering a distance of almost 1,700,000 km. Graf Zeppelin enflamed worldwide enthusiasm with spectacular journeys, such as those across the North Atlantic, around the northern hemisphere or into the Arctic.