Part 8 (1/2)
Attracted by Count Zeppelin's earlier flights, hundreds of persons made reservations for the regularly conducted commercial trips, when in 1910 he organized the Deutsche Luftschiffahrt, A. G. (German Air s.h.i.+p Transportation Co.), briefly called the ”DELAG”. There was apparently a popular demand for commercial airs.h.i.+p transport. Zeppelin founded the ”DELAG” to meet this demand, and also to provide operating personnel and train pilots and crews for the other services, which he knew, would be necessary in case of emergency.
The ”DELAG” was capitalized for 3,000,000 marks (approximately $714,000) and while it was a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin, there also partic.i.p.ated in this commercial operating organization a number of capitalists, whose faith in commercial air transport was fully justified by the success of the ”DELAG” despite much difficulty the first year or so due to lack of meteorological data and inexperience.
The First Air Transport Company
[PLATE 44: The ”DELAG” Pa.s.senger Zeppelin ”Bodensee.”
On an excursion over lake district near Potsdam.
The ”DELAG” Pa.s.senger Zeppelin ”Bodensee.”
Pa.s.sengers at Friedrichshafen embarking for Berlin.]
During the latter part of 1910, minor accidents occurred which sometimes damaged the airs.h.i.+ps and disrupted the service, but in 1911 a comparatively regular service was established and maintained. The princ.i.p.al s.h.i.+p was the ”=Schwaben=,” (Plates 5 and 30) which was far superior to her predecessors and which had the advantage of new and larger sheds at the Zeppelin-”DELAG” airports. The schedule maintained by the ”=Schwaben=” justifies the a.s.sertion that the ”DELAG” operated the first commercial aerial transport company on earth. Her success encouraged expansion, and in 1912, two additional s.h.i.+ps, the ”=Victoria Louise=” (Plates 31-32) and the ”=Hansa=” (Plate 33) were built and entered the ”DELAG” service, to be followed the next year by the ”=Sachsen=”, (Plate 33).
Part of the Aviation Reserve
The German Army commandeered all these commercial Zeppelins at the start of the war. They were used partly for military duty and partly as training s.h.i.+ps for the many necessary crews. The first year of the war, they added hundreds of flights to the commercial record they had already made; but gradually became obsolete and were dismantled to make room for the newer and more efficient types being turned out at the Zeppelin Plants.
The headquarters of the ”DELAG” were at Frankfort. It was from that city that the chief executives controlled operations. The Business Manager had charge of the financial and commercial activities. He supervised salaries, purchase of supplies, materials, etc. Flying operations were in charge of a Director of Flight. He had charge of the personnel at the air harbors; and all technical problems were put up to him.
The crew of a commercial Zeppelin included the pilot, a reserve pilot, a flight mechanic, helmsmen and engineers, the number depending on the nature of the flight, a wireless operator and a s.h.i.+p's steward. The crew usually aggregated twelve men.
Created the First Airs.h.i.+p Harbor
As far as practicable, each Zeppelin was a.s.signed to a definite air harbor, which was known as its home station, or terminal. Here all the repairs and maintenance were done. The members of the crew were a.s.signed to suitable homes, all located in that immediate vicinity. The maintenance crews for airs.h.i.+ps and sheds were also stationed there.
These auxiliaries averaged thirty persons under the direction of a foreman. They, too, formed the nucleus for the landing party necessary to handle the airs.h.i.+ps on arrival or departure. Each air harbor had a manager and his a.s.sistants to handle business details.
[PLATE 45: The ”DELAG” Pa.s.senger Zeppelin ”Bodensee.”
Crew's Quarters.
Water Ballast Bag, Capacity 300 Kilos.
Wireless Room.]
When the Zeppelin arrived at its home port, and during its sojourn there the pilot was in sole command of both s.h.i.+p and air station. He was held strictly accountable for the safety of his s.h.i.+p; and acted as both station master and flying officer, subject only to instruction from the Director of Flight. The pilot alone made the decisions as to whether or not he should make a flight, when he should start and the number of pa.s.sengers and crew he would carry. It is interesting to note that this system was adopted for the entire German airs.h.i.+p force during the war.
In fact, practically all airs.h.i.+p personnel was trained by the ”DELAG.”
Like Land and Water Services
There was no special organization for selling pa.s.senger accommodations.
Agents of the Hamburg-American Line (”HAPAG”) which had offices in all German cities, also represented Zeppelin, and reservations were made on the same basis as for ocean going vessels.
The ”=Deutschland=” was the first Zeppelin operated by the ”DELAG.” The motors, however, were not very dependable; and the low speed of the s.h.i.+p, combined with lack of experience made it susceptible to minor accidents. The =Deutschland= was so badly damaged, finally, that Zeppelin was compelled to rebuild her. During the period that she was being reconstructed the Zeppelin LZ-6 was subst.i.tuted.