Airships
"Airship" refers to any lighter-than-air craft that moves under its own power. Lift is achieved using a gas, like hydrogen or helium, that is less dense than surrounding air. Non-rigid airships — blimps — use the gas's pressure on the containment envelope to maintain their shape. Rigid airships — Zeppelins — support their gas cells with an internal framework. In peace and in war, airships have known triumph and tragedy.
Crowd Gathered to Watch a Balloon Launch, circa 1900
Gondola Landing after Piccard Stratosphere Balloon Flight, Cadiz, Ohio, October 23, 1934
Some balloons do use lifting gasses. Hydrogen lifted the balloon and gondola used by Jean and Jeannette Piccard on their record-setting ascension in 1934. Taking off from Dearborn, Michigan, the Piccards reached an altitude of 10.9 miles, and Jeanette became the first woman to reach the stratosphere. They landed at Cadiz, Ohio — nearly 300 miles from their starting point.
Goodyear Blimp "Mayflower" over Martha-Mary Chapel, Greenfield Village, October 21, 1929
Ford Advertising Airship with Slogan "There's a Ford in Your Future," 1946-1948
With their large gas envelopes and relatively low speeds, blimps make excellent aerial billboards. Goodyear wasn't the only company to realize this. Ford Motor Company decorated this blimp with its optimistic post-World War II advertising slogan, "There's a Ford in Your Future." Advertising blimps are still seen today — particularly at large sporting events.
Zeppelin Hovering over German Ships, 1909
German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin began experimenting with rigid airships in the late 19th century and launched his first successful craft in 1900. By the time of his death in 1917, Zeppelin's airships were in regular service in both civil and military aviation. His name became synonymous with the design — "Zeppelin" remains a common term for rigid airships.
