| Zeppelin NT | |
|---|---|
 Zeppelin NT D–LZZF in flight (2010) | |
| General information | |
| Type | Utility airship |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik |
| Number built | 7 |
| History | |
| First flight | 18 September 1997 |
The Zeppelin NT ("Neue Technologie", German for new technology) is a class of helium-filled airships being manufactured since the 1990s by the German company Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH (ZLT) in Friedrichshafen.[1] The initial model is the N07. The company considers itself the successor of the companies founded by Ferdinand von Zeppelin which constructed and operated the very successful Zeppelin airships in the first third of the 20th century. There are, however, a number of notable differences between the Zeppelin NT and original Zeppelins as well as between the Zeppelin NT and usual non-rigid airships known as blimps. The Zeppelin NT is classified as a semi-rigid airship.[2]
There are various roles for the Zeppelin NT; traditional roles have been aerial tourism purposes and for conducting passenger services. The hull surfaces of the aircraft have also been used for advertising purposes. The Zeppelin NT have also been used for observation platforms, such as for aerial photographers and by television commentators covering major events. Due to their capability for low-vibration flight for up to 24 hours at a time, ZLT considers the airships suitable for research missions for environmental observation, troposphere research and natural resource prospecting.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ntwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "FAQs - Zeppelin vs. blimp". Archived June 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Zeppelinflug, Retrieved: 13 January 2011.