MAY 6

The Hindenburg was the largest airship ever built. Designed by Hugo Eckner, the Zeppelin was constructed of a light metal frame, similar to that of a Ferris Wheel. Passenger carrying airships were first invented in France in 1852 by Henri Giffard. He filled a canvas bag with hydrogen, added structure, and attached a steam powered engine that propelled the airship. He flew the ship for 17 miles! This was 51 years before the Wright Brothers had their first flight.

The airships were named Zeppelins after an aircraft innovator from the late 1800s, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. He significantly advanced the development of the airship. The one big issue that Zeppelins had is the gas that filled the "balloon" portion of the aircraft: hydrogen. Though much lighter than air, which allowed for maximum lift, hydrogen is extremely flammable.

The Hindenburg flew its first flight in March of 1936, and even flew around the Olympic Stadium in Germany during the 1936 Summer Olympics (the Games in which American Jesse Owens won four gold medals and set three world records). The Zeppelins were the pride of Nazi Germany. This largest airship was almost named after Adolf Hitler, but designer Hugo Eckner was not a fan of Hitler or the Nazi party. He instead named it after former German president Paul von Hindenburg. A small but meaningful act of resistance against the Nazis.

The Zeppelin lives on in pop culture with an awesome scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and the namesake of the 70s rock band Led Zeppelin.

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