Airships 1991 - USSR

Set issued by USSR in 1991, with print runs of 4.8mil to 2.9mil.

Perf 12 x 12¼

1k.  This was possibly a simple propaganda airship of the Stalin executive. The stamp states 1910, whereas some accounts state this as a prototype under construction in 1914, with also rumours it burst when filling in 1912. Albatros was also the name of a line of German airplanes used during the WWI

3k. The GA-42 (1987) developed by the British. It took airships to a new level by developing the smallest ever known at only 42.000 cm3 of helium. Owned by Thunder & Colt, which was put up for sale in 1993. American Blimp Company acquired it in 1995. It can only carry the pilot and one passenger and it's use goes only as far as advertising or (like it as been used as well) for specific surveillance in peaceful ground.

4k. By the Italian inventor Umberto Nobile, the N1 was built in 1923. It became famous as the first recorded trip to and flight over the North Pole, and the intercontinental ice patch between Europe and America. The trip was financed by an American Explorer and the Norway Aero club, possibly why the airship was nicknamed Norge in 1926.

5k. Pobeda 1944, was Russian built, and used to transport cargo. Mainly hydrogen gas used for parachute training Balloons.  It crashed shortly after in 1947.

20k. The LZ 127, our famous and most known original 'Graf Zeppelin'. No introductuons necessary, this manufacturer was probably the most famous airship developer, so much that we have the tendecy of calling most airships Zeppelins when in fact they arent. Built mainly as a passenger ship, and it did in fact operate for a long time. It travelled through south America, North America,  Europe,  and even some trips to the middle east.
It's comprehensive history is very well told in Wikipedia.