airships
Buoyant flying vessels
Airships are lighter-than-air aircraft that use gas—historically hydrogen, now helium—for buoyancy and engines for propulsion and steering.
Unlike balloons, airships can be directed rather than merely drifting with the wind.
The term covers rigid designs with internal frameworks (like the Hindenburg), semi-rigid types, and non-rigid blimps.
The airship drifted silently over the city.
Rigid lighter-than-air craft
- blimpNon-rigid flying vessel
- aerostatLighter-than-air craft
- semi-rigidPartly but not fully inflexible
- non-rigidNot holding shape
skyship · Goodyear blimp · barrage balloon · observation balloon
Folded paper enclosure
- gondolaSuspended transport cabin
- gasbagTedious endless talker
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- propellerRotating blades creating thrust
framework · rigging · fins · keel · nose cone · duralumin · outer cover
Ill-fated German dirigible
- Graf ZeppelinNamed German dirigible
- LakehurstNaval air station, Jersey
- transatlantic crossingSea voyage between continents
- golden agePeriod of peak prosperity
airmail · barnstorming · World War I · reconnaissance · bombing raids · Akron · Macon · Italia
Lightest noble gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- buoyancyFluid's upward resistance
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
ascend · altitude · levitate · ballast · gas valves · displacement · neutral buoyancy · superheat
Vessel's secured resting place
- hangarAircraft storage structure
- ground crewAircraft support personnel
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- navigatorRoute-directing crew member
flight · navigation · airspeed · wind drift · ballasting · valving · landing · walking
zeppelin
Rigid lighter-than-air craft
- blimpNon-rigid flying vessel
- aerostatLighter-than-air craft
- semi-rigidPartly but not fully inflexible
non-rigid · skyship · Goodyear blimp · barrage balloon · observation balloon
envelope
Folded paper enclosure
propeller · framework · rigging · fins · keel · nose cone · duralumin · outer cover
Hindenburg
Ill-fated German dirigible
- Graf ZeppelinNamed German dirigible
- LakehurstNaval air station, Jersey
- transatlantic crossingSea voyage between continents
golden age · airmail · barnstorming · World War I · reconnaissance · bombing raids · Akron · Macon · Italia
helium
Lightest noble gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- buoyancyFluid's upward resistance
float · ascend · altitude · levitate · ballast · gas valves · displacement · neutral buoyancy · superheat
mooring
Vessel's secured resting place
- hangarAircraft storage structure
- ground crewAircraft support personnel
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
navigator · flight · navigation · airspeed · wind drift · ballasting · valving · landing · walking · patrol
- flightflying, fly, flight, aviation, aircraft
- transportationcar, bus, airplane, train, plane
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- Aviation HistoryWright Brothers, Wright Flyer, Wright brothers, Kitty Hawk, first flight
- Steampunkgears, cogs, brass goggles, steam engine, pocket watch
- WWI Aviationaerial combat, dogfights, fighter pilots, ace pilots, aces
airshipsairplanes
Powered flying vehicles
jets · helicopters · gliders · drones · rotorcraft
airshipssubmarines
Underwater naval vessels
ships · watercraft · trains · boats · automobiles
airshipssupersonic jets
Aircraft exceeding sound speed
jet aircraft · rockets · high-speed rail · Concorde · fighter jets