dirigibles
Gas-filled flying vessels
Dirigibles are lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered and propelled—unlike free-floating balloons.
The term covers both rigid airships with internal frameworks (like the Hindenburg) and non-rigid blimps.
The word comes from Latin for "steerable," distinguishing these craft from balloons at the mercy of winds: The dirigibles floated majestically over the fairgrounds.
Steerable lighter-than-atmosphere craft
- zeppelinRigid lighter-than-air craft
- blimpNon-rigid flying vessel
- gondolaSuspended transport cabin
- heliumLightest noble gas
hydrogen · buoyancy · mooring · hangar · envelope · propeller · altitude · navigation
Ill-fated German dirigible
- Graf ZeppelinNamed German dirigible
- GoodyearMajor American tire manufacturer
- LakehurstNaval air station, Jersey
- golden agePeriod of peak prosperity
1930s · luxury travel · disaster · Akron · Macon · airmail · expedition · polar
Of a prim era
- retrofuturismNostalgia for bygone futures
- clockworkSpring-driven gear system
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
adventure · fantasy · alternate history · aeronaut · expedition · explorer · Jules Verne · H.G. Wells
Paid promotional communication
- Goodyear blimpCorporate dirigible over stadiums
- aerial photographyImages captured aloft
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- broadcastingMass signal transmission
sports coverage · tourism · sightseeing · cargo transport · solar-powered · eco-friendly · drone · unmanned
airship
Steerable lighter-than-atmosphere craft
helium · hydrogen · buoyancy · mooring · hangar · envelope · propeller · altitude · navigation · pilot
Hindenburg
Ill-fated German dirigible
- Graf ZeppelinNamed German dirigible
- GoodyearMajor American tire manufacturer
- LakehurstNaval air station, Jersey
golden age · 1930s · luxury travel · disaster · Akron · Macon · airmail · expedition · polar · reconnaissance
Victorian
Of a prim era
- retrofuturismNostalgia for bygone futures
- clockworkSpring-driven gear system
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
goggles · adventure · fantasy · alternate history · aeronaut · expedition · explorer · Jules Verne · H.G. Wells · aesthetic
advertising
Paid promotional communication
- Goodyear blimpCorporate dirigible over stadiums
- aerial photographyImages captured aloft
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
broadcasting · sports coverage · tourism · sightseeing · cargo transport · solar-powered · eco-friendly · drone · unmanned · revival
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, flight, airplane
- Aviation HistoryWright Brothers, Wright Flyer, Wright brothers, Kitty Hawk, first flight
- Edwardian BritainEdward VII, Queen Victoria, country houses, manor houses, servants
- balloon imageryhot air balloons, gas balloons, floating, ascent
- aerostatsaerostat, airships, blimp, balloons, zeppelin
dirigiblesairplanes
Powered flying vehicles
jets · planes · jet aircraft · fighter jets · gliders
dirigiblessupersonic jets
Aircraft exceeding sound speed
jet fighters · stealth bombers · spacecraft · Concorde · SR-71 Blackbird