WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft

WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft mbH is a German company that designs, builds and operates non-rigid airships (blimps). It is a subsidiary of the WDL-Gruppe and was founded in 1972 by the Mülheim/Ruhr merchant Theodor Wüllenkemper. The company is headquartered at the Essen/Mülheim airfield (Verkehrslandeplatz Essen/Mülheim), from where it conducts aerial advertising and offers sightseeing flights. Since its founding until 2003, WDL constructed twelve airships that were used for its own and for third-party advertising in Germany and abroad. The company's airships are known for their large illuminated panels that can display light lettering and animations at night. WDL has also been involved in cargo transport, having carried out freight flights to West Africa in 1976 as part of development aid projects. Over the decades, WDL has operated airships for major advertising clients such as Wicküler Brewery, Braun, and Fujifilm. The company has weathered setbacks including storm damage and fatal accidents, and it continues to operate sightseeing flights, most recently under the branding of the WAZ media group. WDL is a privately held company within the WDL group of companies.

WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft mbH was founded in 1972 by Theodor Wüllenkemper, a merchant from Mülheim/Ruhr. The company's origins trace back to 1969, when Wüllenkemper gained experience with the hydrogen-filled non-rigid airship D-LEMO, operated for the Braun company. This inspired him to build a larger helium-filled airship. The first WDL airship, the WDL 1 (registration D-LDFM), made its maiden flight on 12 August 1972. It was initially used as an advertising medium for the Wicküler brewery of Wuppertal under the name "Der fliegende Musketier" (The Flying Musketeer). Simultaneously, a second airship was built for sale to Japan. Despite a severe storm in November 1972 that destroyed the airship hangar and two airships inside, Wüllenkemper rebuilt everything. In 1976, WDL 1 carried out cargo transports to West Africa as part of development aid projects; a critical article in Der Spiegel in 1989 claimed that 5 million DM of tax money had been "sunk into the steppe sand." Since 1988, the successor type WDL 1B has been produced. In the early 1990s, WDL conducted a concept study for an airship with a capacity of 16 passengers, but the study never progressed beyond the project stage. In 1993, WDL received its first US flight certification. According to the manufacturer's website, four airships were in service worldwide in early 2005. WDL has a large tent hangar at Essen-Mülheim airfield, measuring 90 m long, 46 m wide and 26 m high, serving as winter quarters for two airships, plus two aircraft hangars. At the end of 2006, Fujifilm, one of WDL's main customers, discontinued advertising on airships (including internationally on all other airships), citing a new corporate direction and alternative use of the advertising budget. The last sightseeing flights with Fujifilm branding took place from 1 to 30 July 2006 from Essen/Mülheim airport. Since 2009, the airship has carried the branding of the WAZ media group, and sightseeing flights have resumed. After the airship was almost completely destroyed in a storm in June 2014, it was rebuilt. The new envelope from Ballonbau Wörner in Augsburg, with a helium volume of 6,700 m³, was delivered on 26 May 2015. It is 59.75 m long and 19.30 m high. In 1998, when airship construction seemed to experience a renaissance with Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and Cargolifter AG, WDL produced a detailed study on the limits and possibilities of airship construction. It criticized that airships over 60 m in length would have difficulty obtaining flight permits, could land only on few areas, and would have significant problems with crosswinds. WDL accordingly assessed the chances of success for the Zeppelin NT and the Cargolifter CL160 as very low. Arnold Beier, long-time managing director of WDL Luftschiff Gesellschaft, also commented in 1999 on the prospects of Cargolifter AG, pointing out potential problems with snow and gas management for the planned CL160.

• 2015

  New envelope from Ballonbau Wörner delivered on 26 May; airship rebuilt.

• 2014

  The airship was almost completely destroyed in a storm in June.

• 2009

  The airship began carrying the branding of the WAZ media group; sightseeing flights resumed.

• 2006

  Fujifilm discontinued airship advertising; last Fujifilm-branded sightseeing flights in July.

• 1994

  Fatal accident in Gießen involving a WDL 1B airship; two people died.

• 1993

  WDL received its first US flight certification.

• 1988

  Production of the successor type WDL 1B began.

• 1976

  WDL 1 carried out cargo transports to West Africa as part of development aid projects.

• 1972

  Founding of WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft; maiden flight of WDL 1 on 12 August.

• 1972

  A severe storm in November destroyed the airship hangar and two airships.

• 1969

  WDL gained experience with the hydrogen-filled airship D-LEMO, operated for Braun.

Specialist in non-rigid airship construction and operation for advertising and tourism.

• WDL 1

  First airship type, maiden flight 12 August 1972, registration D-LDFM.

• WDL 1B

  Successor type produced since 1988.

1. 1WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft - Wikidatawikidata.org