st, 1919, the "=Bodensee=" made 103
flights in 98 days; on several days making two flights, one a short
sightseeing trip over Berlin in addition to her regular run.
Seventy-eight flights were made between Lake Constance and Berlin and
two between Berlin and Stockholm, eighty trips on schedule in
ninety-eight days. There was no flying for ten days owing to general
overhaul and repairs. On three occasions the regular flights were
postponed because of heavy cross winds which made it difficult and
dangerous to start the Zeppelin from the fixed shed of the airdrome at
Staaken. This meant the loss of six trips. Two of the regular trips were
omitted because of the flights to Sweden.

[PLATE 52: 50,000 Cubic Meter Passenger Zeppelin.

For medium distances and training purposes.]

Nevertheless, in that period 2,380 passengers were carried, exclusive of
crews, about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of mail and 6,600 (300
kilograms) of express, freight and baggage. The "=Bodensee=" was in the
air 533 hours, flying in all 32,300 miles (52,000 kilometers) an average
of 62 miles an hour. Notwithstanding the many unforeseen difficulties
due to uncertain political and economic conditions in Germany during the
last quarter of 1919, the technical results of the "=Bodensee=" operations
were excellent.

The "Nordstern" a Sister Ship

A sister ship of the "=Bodensee=" was built during the last quarter of
1919, and named the "=Nordstern=" but in December, that year, the
Inter-Allied Air-Control Commission ordered the airship operations
stopped. The "=Bodensee=" was delivered to Italy and the "=Nordstern=" to
France in 1921.

Once more the aeronautical world became interested in Zeppelins. The
last cruise of the "=Bodensee=" under German management took her from
Friedrichshafen to Rome. She cruised over Zurich, Bern, Geneva and
Avignon, often making 160 kilometers an hour, to the Mediterranean, near
St. Rafael. Visitors at Cannes, Nice and Monaco saw a rigid airship for
the first time as the "=Bodensee=" held to her route passing directly over
Corsica and Elba, and finally to the airdrome in Ciampino, between Rome
and the Albanian mountains. She had made more than 825 miles (1,329
kilometers) in 12 hours and 49 minutes, at an average speed of 64.6
miles (104 kilometers) an hour for the entire distance.

[PLATE 53: 60,000 Cubic Meter Fast Passenger Zeppelin.

For medium distances. Accommodations for eighty passengers