When Graf Zeppelin Went Around the World

In August 1929, the Graf Zeppelin embarked on a pioneering round-the-world flight funded in part by William Randolph Hearst, who paid half the expenses in exchange for exclusive media rights and sent four staff members, including the first woman to circumnavigate by air, Lady Hay Drummond-Hay. The journey began and ended at Lakehurst, New Jersey, with tickets priced nearly $3000—a hefty sum indicative of the venture’s exclusivity, though most costs were covered for participants. Along the way, the airship refueled and carried souvenir mail between stops in Friedrichshafen, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, enhancing its financial viability. The Graf Zeppelin traversed 33,234 km in just over 21 days, setting a record for the fastest global circumnavigation at the time. The flight included a notable aesthetic flyby of San Francisco’s Golden Gate at sunset and concluded with a challenging takeoff from Los Angeles due to adverse weather, showcasing both the airship’s capabilities and the daring nature of early aviation.