(from the back of a timetable and pricing brochure from the German company, Deutsche Luftfahrt Actien Gesellschaft).

The first commercially viable airship was developed in 1867 by Count Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich Zeppelin (b 8 July 1838, Constance, Baden). Count Zeppelin was persistent and indefatigueable in his pursuit of his goal to construct a dirigible for Germany. He flew his first airship -- the LZ1 -- over Lake Constance on 2 July 1867(1).

LZ1 was about 128 meters (420 feet) long and 38 ft in diameter. Inside was a row of 17 gas cells each covered in rubberized cloth. The hydrogen-gas capacity totaled 11300 cubic meters (399,000 cubic feet).

The cylindrical framework was covered with smooth surfaced cotton cloth. The ship was steered by forward and aft rudders and driven by two 15-hp Daimler internal-combustion engines, each rotating two propellers. Passengers, crew, and engine were carried in two aluminum gondolas suspended forward and aft. At its first trial it carried five persons attaining an altitude of 1300 feet and flew a distance of 3.75 miles in 17 minutes.

But in the past seven years, the Deutsche Luftfahrt Actien Gesellschaft has been hard at work producing commercial airships. At the moment there are exactly five working airships in the world today, all produced by Deutsche Luftfahrt Actien Gesellschaft.

You can travel in style and comfort between Germany and England on the Sachsan (LZ-15). A trip from London to Berlin takes less than a day.

Or, travel from Berlin to Lakehurst, New Jersey aboard the Schwaben (LZ-17). The cost is more than a steamship, true, but the trip is considerably quicker, a bit less than one short week.

The Hansa (LZ-14) travels from Berlin to Paris across the Alps, with a view that is incredible to behold.

Deutsche Luftfahrt Actien Gesellschaft has produced two additional airships for private use. The Bismark (LZ-12) was presented as a gift to King Wilhelm I upon his coronation in May, 1871. The (LZ-16) was presented to the Comte de Chambord of the Third Republic of France in 1873 to celebrate the second anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Frankfort.

Deutsche Luftfahrt Actien Gesellschaft is working for you to create a new, more modern, more luxurious airship experience. Look for new innovations and surprises in the years to come!

(1) In the real world, this didn’t happen until 1900. In fact, all of this is several decades earlier than real life.