LZ 108 / L 60

The LZ 108, later redesignated L‑60, was the last rigid airship built by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin before the company turned exclusively to metal‑clad aircraft. Launched in June 1935, the vessel represented the culmination of Zeppelins’ interwar development and incorporated several technological advances that had been tested on earlier models such as the L‑Z‑129 Hindenburg. The hull was 245 meters long and 30 meters in diameter, giving a volume of 90 000 m³, which allowed a static lift of roughly 130 tons. Four Daimler‑Benz DB 603 gasoline‑driven engines, mounted on the gondola, provided a maximum speed of 130 km/h and a range of 4 000 km. Defensive armament consisted of two 20 mm MG FF cannons and several machine‑gun positions, reflecting the growing expectation that future airships would have to operate in hostile environments. L‑60 was employed mainly for long‑distance passenger and mail routes between Germany and South America, proving the commercial viability of modern rigid airships even after the Hindenburg disaster. Although only a single example was completed, the L‑60 demonstrated the potential of large‑volume lift, advanced aerodynamics and integrated power plants, influencing later rigid‑airship concepts and cementing Zeppelin’s legacy in early aviation history.