The first successful Zeppelin airship, flown in 1900, was the LZ 1. Built under Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s direction, it made its first flight on 2 July 1900 over Lake Constance near Friedrichshafen, Germany.
The LZ 1 was a rigid airship: an aluminium framework held its shape, while 17 internal gas cells provided lift. Two Daimler engines powered propellers mounted on the airship, and separate gondolas carried the crew and passengers. Its first flight lasted 17 minutes and covered about 3.7 miles, despite an engine failure and problems with its movable weight system.
The craft demonstrated that Zeppelin’s concept could work, but it was not an immediate commercial success. After three trial flights, funding ran out, and the airship was dismantled. Later Zeppelin designs became more reliable and eventually supported passenger services and military operations.
A common mix-up is confusing the LZ 1 with the Graf Zeppelin, which was LZ 127 and flew nearly three decades later, or the Hindenburg, which was LZ 129.