ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co. KG und Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH

About Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei

ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co. KG and Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH (DZR), based in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, form a corporate group that develops, manufactures, markets and operates airships. Founded in 1993, ZLT is the manufacturer of the Zeppelin NT (type LZ N07-100/101), a semi-rigid airship with a length of 75 m, an envelope volume of 8,425 m³, a rigid internal structure of aluminium and carbon truss members, three swivelling propulsion units and fly-by-wire flight controls. The envelope consists of a tear-resistant 3-layer laminate filled with non-flammable helium. DZR, whose roots go back to DELAG founded in 1909, was revived in 2001 as the operating company and conducts passenger sightseeing flights, charter and advertising flights as well as scientific missions; it is also the world's only recognised training facility for Zeppelin pilots. In 2001 the Zeppelin NT received its type certificate from the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt; the airship was certified by EASA and FAA for commercial operation in the Commuter Class. The principal shareholders of ZLT are Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH (51%) and the ZF Group (49%). Customers include, among others, Goodyear and ZF, and historically De Beers and Airship Ventures.

Site

Friedrichshafen

Processes

Airship construction (Zeppelin NT: development, manufacture, sale, maintenance), Passenger sightseeing flights, Maintenance hangar tours, Pilot training (world's only recognised training facility for Zeppelin pilots), Development, manufacture and sale of the Zeppelin NT, Charter/advertising flights (e.g. Goodyear, ZF), Use as a flying laboratory for scientific missions, Gastronomy in the Zeppelin hangar

Materials

Aluminium, Carbon/carbon fibre composite (internal structure, empennage), 3-layer laminate (envelope fabric), Helium (non-flammable lifting gas), Carbon/carbon fibre composite

Certificates

Type certificate Zeppelin NT (LBA), EASA/FAA certification Commuter Class, Type certificate Zeppelin NT (LBA), EASA/FAA certification Commuter Class, Recognition as an aviation manufacturing facility

Founded

1993

Industries

Aviation/Airship construction, Air tourism, Science/Research, Advertising/Marketing

1. 01

   Development and design of the airship

2. 02

   Manufacture of the internal structure (aluminium/carbon truss)

3. 03

   Production and assembly of the envelope (3-layer laminate)

4. 04

   Maintenance and airworthiness (maintenance hangar)

5. 05

   Pilot training

6. 06

   Commercial flight operations (sightseeing, charter and advertising flights,

Materials and Technologies

Locations

Friedrichshafen

DE

Headquarters, hangar/maintenance facility, development, manufacture and flight operations

Materials

Aluminium, carbon fibre composite, 3-layer laminate, helium

• Zeppelin NT (LZ N07-100/101), 3 airships: length 75 m, width 19.5 m, height 17.4 m, volume 8,425 m³

Mülheim an der Ruhr

DE

Flight operations site at Essen/Mülheim Airport

Oberschleißheim

DE

Flight operations site Munich (Oberschleißheim airfield)

Bonn

DE

Flight operations site Bonn/Hangelar

Bad Homburg

DE

Flight operations site Frankfurt

Components and Airship Parts

Inside the production

Processes & technical limits

1 Anlagen & Maschinen

Quality and Certifications

ZLT is recognised as an aviation manufacturing facility; the Zeppelin NT holds the type certificate of the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt as well as EASA and FAA certifications for commercial operation in the Commuter Class. The corporate group operates an established safety and information security management system with internal audits, measurable Safety Performance Indicators and regular training.

History

1. 1909

   Founding of DELAG as the world's first airline (origin of DZR)

2. 1993

   Founding of ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Friedrichshafen (September)

3. 1997

   First flight of the first Zeppelin NT prototype on 18 September

4. 2001

   Revival of Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei as the operating company; type certificate of the Zeppelin NT; recognition as an aviation manufacturing facility

5. 2005

   Leasing of a Zeppelin NT to De Beers for diamond exploration (until 2007)

6. 2011

   Order from Goodyear for three Zeppelin NTs; maiden flight of Wingfoot One in March 2014

7. 2014

   Wingfoot One replaces the Goodyear blimp Spirit of Goodyear

8. 2025

   Deployments including Le Mans (Goodyear), Europa-Park Rust, Munich, Bonn/Cologne, Frankfurt, Essen/Mülheim