A view of the cockpit of the Zeppelin airship LZ 126, 1924.

GERMANY - JANUARY 10: A photograph from the official album of the Zeppelin Naval Airship Company, published in 1924. Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838-1917) launched the first Zeppelin LZ1, in July 1900 from a floating hangar on Lake Constance near the company's factory at Friedrichshafen in Germany. The LZ 126 was built by the German Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin) and sent to the United States as part of Germany's reparation agreement after World War I. When LZ 126 entered service it was designated the ZR-3 and named the 'Los Angeles'. From 12 to 15 October 1924, it flew a record 8300 kms between Friedrichshafen and Lake Hurst in New Jersey, taking 81 hours and 17 minutes. ZR-3/LZ 126 was retired from service in 1932. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)