Engine of the Clement-Bayard dirigible; 7-cylinder; 55 horse-power; weighing only 155 pounds.
In May, 1909, the rebuilt “Zeppelin III,” now rechristened “Zeppelin II,” after many successful short flights was prepared for the Government trial. On May 29, 1909, with a crew of six men, Count von Zeppelin started from Friedrichshafen for Berlin, 360 miles away. The great ship passed over Ulm, Nuremburg, Bayreuth, and Leipzig; and here it encountered so strong a head wind from the north, that it was decided to turn about at Bitterfeld and return to Friedrichshafen. The distance travelled had been nearly 300 miles in 21 hours. The course followed was quite irregular, and took the ship over Wurtzburg, and by a wide detour to Heilbron and Stuttgart. The supply of gasoline running low, it was decided to land at Goeppingen, where more could be obtained. It was raining heavily, and through some mistake in steering, or some sudden veering of the wind, the prow of the great dirigible came into collision with a tree upon the hillside. The envelope was badly torn, and a part of the aluminum inner structure wrecked. However, the mechanics on board were able to make such repairs that the ship was able to resume the voyage the next day, and made port without further mishap. The vessel having been 38 hours in the air at the time of the accident, so much of the Government’s stipulations had been complied with. But it had not succeeded in landing safely. Nevertheless it was accepted by the Government. The entire journey has been variously estimated at from 680 to 900 miles, either figure being a record for dirigibles.
Accident to the new “Zeppelin II” at Goeppingen. The damage was repaired and the airship continued its voyage the next day.
On August 4, the dirigible “Gross II” made a voyage from Berlin to Apolda, and returned; a distance of 290 miles in 16 hours. This airship also was accepted by the German Government and added to its fleet.
In August, the Zeppelin II was successfully sailed to Berlin, where Count von Zeppelin was welcomed by an immense and enthusiastic multitude of his countrymen, including the Emperor and the royal family.
On September 26, the new French dirigible, “La Republique,” built on the model of the successful Lebaudy airships, met with an accident while in the air. A blade of one of the propellers broke and slashed into the envelope. The ship fell from a height of 6,000 feet, and its crew of four men lost their lives.
View of the damaged Zeppelin from the front, showing the tree against which it collided.