Parseval PL 9
| Parseval PL 9 | |
|---|---|
 Parseval PL 9, c. 1910 (Taschenbuch der Luftflotten, 1915) | |
| General information | |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft |
| Designer | |
| Primary user | Ottoman army |
| Number built | 1 |
Parseval PL 9 (Parseval-Luftschiff 9) was a non-rigid airship made in 1910 by the Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft in Bitterfeld, devised by German airship designer August von Parseval.[1][2]
Operational history
Parseval PL 9 was likely built in 1910 by German aircraft manufacturer Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft, and it was designed by the German airship designer, August von Parseval.[1]
Later in 1911, Parseval PL 9 served as a replacement airship for the Parseval PL 5 after it burned in a fire at Hannoversch Münden.[2] The airship was stationed at Breslau-Gandau warfield in modern-day Wrocław, Poland.[2]
In 1913, Parseval PL 9 was sold to the Ottoman army, becoming the Ottoman Empire's first and only airship.[3]
On July 23, 1913, Parseval PL 9's first flight operated by the Ottoman army happened in Yeşilköy, Turkey.[3] The crew was mostly composed of Turkish and German officers, and engineers. They were able to reach an altitude of 300 meters.[3]
Under Ottoman service, Parseval PL 9 was commanded by airship pioneer and captain, Karl Hackstetter, nicknamed "Hacky-Bey."[4]
By August 1913, Parseval PL 9 had flown three times, but the airship was grounded for repairs shortly after, and it never saw action.[5]
Specifications
General characteristics
- Length: 50 m (164 ft 1 in)
- Diameter: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Volume: 2,200 m3 (77,700 cu ft)
- Useful lift: 1,320 kg (2,910 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × NAG , 37 kW (50 hp)
- Propellers: single blade, 3 m (9 ft 10 in) diameter (wooden)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph, 22 kn)
References
- 1 2 3 Hormel, D. W. (1915). Taschenbuch der Luftflotten. p. 72. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- 1 2 3 "1910.06.20 PL5 at Breslau". Earlyaeroplanes. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- 1 2 3 Atlı, Altay. "Story of Turkish Aviation". Turkeyswar. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ Hackstetter, Rene. "Karl Hackstetter in Turkey". Earlyaviators. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ Bülent, Ole; Yilmazer, Nikolajsen (2012). Ottoman Aviation 1909–1919. Australian War Museum and Archives, M550862, 74.
A flight time of 1 hour and 12 mins. was recorded covering the route from Yeşilköy over İstanbul to Galatasaray and back. By the 15th of August 3 flights had been performed but during the resumed hostilities the airship was grounded for repair and it never saw action.
- ↑ Marston, Sampson Low (1913). Jane, Fred T. (ed.). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913. New York: Arco Publishing Company. p. 160.
