New and larger sheds were built for the “DELAG” as the fleet increased in size. When they first commenced flying there were only two airship sheds in addition to the one at Friedrichshafen. These were at Baden-Baden and at Dusseldorf. They owned the shed at Baden-Baden and leased from the municipality the one at Dusseldorf. Toward the end of 1911 others were available, one at Johannisthal near Berlin and one at Gotha. In 1912 two more were ready, one at Frankfort on the Main, owned by the “DELAG,” and one at Potsdam, owned by Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin. In 1913 the municipalities of Hamburg, Leipzig and Dresden erected sheds. ([Plates 34]-[35]-[36].) In the beginning the sheds were single but the ones built after the “DELAG” had started regular schedules, accommodated two ships side by side. Some of the sheds were huge, often 196.8 feet (60 meters) wide.
Development of Adequate Hangars
They were provided with electric lights, water supply and docking rails, which extended from either end. Special piping conveyed the hydrogen from plant to shed. All sheds had railway connections, and were equipped with waiting rooms for passengers and crews, as well as workshops and accessory buildings. The airship harbors built by the “DELAG” and Zeppelin had particularly extensive workshops, for besides the regular maintenance work, they produced many new parts and instruments for navigating Zeppelins.
PLATE 48
The “DELAG” Passenger Zeppelin “Bodensee.”
Power gondola (side) containing one 260 horsepower Maybach motor. Note ladder communicating with interior of ship.
The “DELAG” Passenger Zeppelin “Bodensee.”
Power gondola (rear) containing two 260 horsepower Maybach motors. Note ladder communicating with interior of ship.
At every shed there was a meteorological station fitted with barometers, barographs, thermographs, and a theodolite for measurement of the wind velocity in the upper atmosphere. Weather observations were made each morning and telegraphed to all other stations. This enabled all Zeppelin pilots to be thoroughly informed before setting out on a flight. The special data supplied by the Zeppelin stations was more adequate for airship requirements than that from the Government official weather bureau. Wireless equipment was installed late in 1913.