aerostats
Lighter-than-air craft
Aerostats are aircraft that achieve lift through buoyancy rather than aerodynamic forces—balloons and airships, as opposed to airplanes and helicopters.
The term is technical, appearing mainly in aviation contexts: The military uses aerostats for surveillance.
An aerostat floats because it contains gas lighter than the surrounding air.
Non-rigid flying vessel
Fluid's upward resistance
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- heliumLightest noble gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
- displacementRemoval from usual location
lighter-than-air · inflation · deflation · equilibrium · altitude · ascent · descent
Folded paper enclosure
- gondolaSuspended transport cabin
- basketWoven carrying vessel
- gasbagTedious endless talker
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
mooring · mast · tether · valve · vent · burner · nacelle · fin
Move upward
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
- soarAscend to heights
glide · tether · launch · inflate · moor · pilot · navigate · altitude
Systematic observation of subjects
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
- tourismLeisure travel sector
research · meteorology · communications · photography · mapping · broadcasting · military · scientific
First to explore territory
- ascensionMovement to higher position
- exhibitionPublic display of items
- transatlanticSpanning the ocean between continents
blimp
Non-rigid flying vessel
buoyancy
Fluid's upward resistance
displacement · lighter-than-air · inflation · deflation · equilibrium · altitude · ascent · descent
envelope
Folded paper enclosure
rigging · mooring · mast · tether · valve · vent · burner · nacelle · fin · rudder
ascend
Move upward
soar · glide · tether · launch · inflate · moor · pilot · navigate · altitude · airborne
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
tourism · research · meteorology · communications · photography · mapping · broadcasting · military · scientific · sightseeing
pioneering
First to explore territory
- ascensionMovement to higher position
- exhibitionPublic display of items
- transatlanticSpanning the ocean between continents
aerostatsairplanes
Powered flying vehicles
helicopters · rotorcraft · jets · gliders · drones
aerostatsairships
Steerable lighter-than-atmosphere craft
dirigibles · blimps · submarines · zeppelins