Zeppelin Part 7

[PLATE 38: "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee".]

There were other airplane enterprises organized by Count Zeppelin, which remain today leaders in their respective fields. Zeppelin was the first person to conceive of the giant all-metal flying boats (Plates 21 and 22), and all-metal airplanes.

The Zeppelin-Dornier Metal Monoplanes

He organized a small group within the parent company, Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin, in 1912. It was the first concern exclusively engaged in all-metal airplane construction. Today the great plant of Dornier Metallbau G.M.B.H. at Seemoos, near Friedrichshafen is noted the world over for its remarkable development in heavier-than-air craft, which are named Dornier, after the manager and chief engineer. From the first Count Zeppelin placed at the disposal of Claude Dornier ample funds with which he was able to follow utterly new and original methods in developing all-metal planes on a strictly scientific basis.

It had never been done before. The plant in six years developed from a small experimental workshop to one of the largest in the world. At Seemoos there are located a great hangar, office buildings, workshops, turntables, slips and other facilities for landing and withdrawing the huge Dornier flying boats. Another great factory was erected at Lindau in 1918 but has not been used for reasons of economy.

[PLATE 39: The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Nordstern", 1919.

A sister ship of the "Bodensee."

The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Nordstern."

Interior view of the pa.s.senger cabin.]

As progress was made in designing, constructing and testing metal planes, Dornier devoted the work practically toward perfection of internally braced monoplanes. The monoplane principle was maintained from the beginning. Today it is recognized generally as the most desirable type. New designs, methods of handling metal, experiments with various kinds of construction, newly invented machine tools, experimental planes and models, each an advance in efficiency, invariably something newly discovered in the infant science of aerodynamics-these were the activities of Dornier and his staff in six years.

The results were Dornier's all-metal planes, possessing from 55 to 2,400 horsepower. They had just started quant.i.ty production of big planes and flying boats in the factories at Lindau and Seemoos when the German revolution halted all activities. Since then, though hampered by the treaty stipulations, the company has developed a series of commercial types unexcelled in construction, performance and safe operation. Since the war both commercial land planes and flying boats powered with from one to three engines have been produced.

Twenty-one Dornier Designs

During the war their products included pursuit planes, single motor two-place fighters (Plate 23), two and three motored bombing planes and four and multi-engined giant planes-all for over land flying. Seaplane types included single engine two-place fighters, two and three motored flying boats and four and multi-engine giant flying boats. More than one hundred domestic patents were held and more than 250 filed in foreign patent offices. Twenty-one different designs for experimental types had been produced, seventeen of them worked out in as many machines which were flown, and four Plates 24-25-26-27 made into models Plates 24-25-26-27. The following is a list of the experimental personnel year by year:

1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 Engineers 15 25 25 69 52 23 Workmen 30 250 300 547 207 80

[PLATE 40: The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee." Landing at Friedrichshafen September 1919.

The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee." Floating in the large shed at Friedrichshafen.]

Zeppelin Builds Giant Airplanes

But there was another angle to the Zeppelin airplane activities. Count Zeppelin held the rank of General in the German Army. He had long been in a position which kept him informed of the needs of the fighting forces. For several months after the declaration of war he observed the heavy tasks to which his airships were put and then undertook the development of larger airplanes, far larger than any existing in the world at the time.

He consulted the noted aviator h.e.l.lmuth Hirth, and together they conferred with Professor Baumann of the technical university at Stuttgart. Baumann was already noted for his work as an aeronautical engineer. Within a few months they produced a multi-engined giant bomber. It proved successful. To produce these machines in quant.i.ty the Zeppelin works at Staaken were erected at the same time as the airship building plant. The airplane factory at Staaken soon employed more than a thousand men in turning out the giant night bombers, numbers of which were flown in the raids over London and Paris in 1917 and 1918.

The Airplane Works at Staaken

The plant at Staaken was complete, including two great airplane a.s.sembling sheds, workshops, offices, etc. It is now closed. Other German firms have built similar bombing planes under the Zeppelin patents. Twenty-six of them were built at Staaken, however.

They had a 137.76 foot (42 meters) wing span, carried 4.5 tons useful load, could climb to a height of 14,760 feet (4,500 meters) with their motors which aggregated 1,250 horsepower. Their average speed was 90 miles per hour (Plate 23).

[PLATE 41: The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Nordstern."

Leaving Friedrichshafen for France. Note the progressive increase in the size of the sheds.

The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

Pa.s.sengers enjoying an excursion over Berlin.]

Other machines were built, smaller, but of all-metal construction. After the war "The Staaken Giant" (Plate 24) was put into commission. It, too, was all-metal, carried four motors and was distinctly a commercial plane. During many successful trials it carried eighteen pa.s.sengers at a speed of 145 miles an hour. Later on, a two-engine commercial land plane was nearing completion when the Inter-allied Aeronautical Commission ordered all work stopped, and the activities at Staaken ceased.

Social Welfare Inst.i.tutions of the Zeppelin Organizations

One of the main requisites for success in any industry is the welfare of the men and women employed; and the establishment of the great Zeppelin organization created a community of employees in the small town on Lake Constance which demanded increasing attention as the organization expanded.

At first questions of industrial and social welfare were settled by a special department within Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin, but in September, 1913, a separate organization (Zeppelin Wohlfahrt G.M.B.H.) was provided. Count Zeppelin specified that homes for the men be provided immediately; that they should be built "economically but that they should make for comfort." One hundred and one single family houses were completed in July, 1916, and the new community was named Zeppelindorf (Zeppelin village) (Plate 29). Each house sits in a garden which enables the occupant to raise his own vegetables and fruits.

The club house was opened in March, 1917. Here is a large dining room for the workmen, which is also used for concerts, plays, meetings and other social activities. There are several club rooms. Nearby are the laundry, ice plant, steam plant, and other common utilities. The "Inn"

and general store are also patronized by the people of Friedrichshafen.

Later an agricultural department was established for the purpose of supplying good food at low prices. Five large farms are worked by this branch and cattle raising and fruit growing have made it one of the most notable inst.i.tutions in Central Europe.

[PLATE 42: The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

The crew at the finish of the ship's 100th flight between Berlin and Friedrichshafen, December 1919.

The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Nordstern."

Control car, front view.]

There is a savings bank which pays slightly more than the ordinary interest rate which followed the erection of the public library where all employees are encouraged in self-instruction. All sorts of scientific books, popular works and magazines are provided, beside the many lectures. Courses in domestic science are held for the women.

There was so much building to be done that a brick factory became one of the most important inst.i.tutions in Zeppelin Village, which has also acquired an athletic field under the direction of an instructor in physical culture.

Practically the same community, with all the inst.i.tutions, etc., has been created for the Zeppelin workers at Staaken, on the outskirts of Berlin.

[PLATE 43: The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Nordstern."

Elevator Rudder and Alt.i.tude Controls.

Chief Engineer's Station Engine Telegraphs.

Steering Wheel and Compa.s.s.]

CHAPTER III

Operations of Commercial Zeppelins