Mr Kirch has kept his collection in his home in Jersey and the aircraft hangar he bought. Some of the photos in his collection show commercial and military types of airship and highlight the size of the industry that came to an end before World War Two. The British industry effectively ended in 1930 with the crash of R101, the world's biggest airship. It was on its way to India when it crashed in France with the loss of 48 out of 54 of those on board. The Germans continued with their industry, but the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 was the beginning of the end of commercial airship travel. Luxury dining on one of the 'ocean liners of the skies' Picture: BNPS.co.uk

Credit : BNPS.co.uk