In 2011, Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co KG (ZLT) secured its largest order to date with the sale of three LZ N07-101 airships to the US tyre group Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - a real milestone in the history of the high-tech airship manufacturer in Friedrichshafen.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world with branches around the globe and a long tradition of building and operating blimps. With the decision to completely replace the three blimps which are currently in operation, with the new LZ N07-101 zeppelins by 2017, Goodyear's airship operations are equipped for the future. In addition to the completely newly developed avionics, the ultra-modern zeppelins from Friedrichshafen have also received a new enlarged gondola with two additional seats.

The decision in favour of airships from Friedrichshafen closes a circle that began in 1923 with the founding of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation. At that time, the American interest in Zeppelin airships ensured the continuation of airship construction in Friedrichshafen after the end of the First World War.

Delivery of the three Zeppelin NTs will take a total of six years, with the third ship entering service in the USA in 2017. Both the development and assembly of the large components will take place in Friedrichshafen. All components will be shipped to the USA in containers and finally assembled in the Goodyear airship hangar at Wingfoot Lake in Suffield, Ohio under the management of ZLT. A real milestone was the successful maiden flight of the first Goodyear Zeppelin NT on 17 March 2014, which was christened "Wingfoot I" on 24 August.

In addition to exhibits from the USA, a specially produced movie is the centrepiece of the Zeppelin Museum exhibition. It tells how and why zeppelins are being built for the USA in Friedrichshafen again after 90 years, how they are made and what they are used for.

That's still going on

International Museum Day

Zeppelin voyage of discovery