Editing Airship (section)

===Early pioneers===
[[File:Flying boat.png|thumb|Francesco Lana de Terzi's Aerial Ship design of 1670]]
[[File:BlanchardChannelFlight.jpg|thumb|Crossing of the [[English Channel]] by Blanchard in 1785]]
[[File:Seven Views of the Atmotic Ship - page 3.jpg|thumb|Bland's 1851 Atmotic Ship design p. 3]]
[[File:GiffardAirship.JPG|thumb|A model of the 1852 [[Giffard dirigible|Giffard airship]] at the [[London Science Museum]]]]
[[File:DupuyLomeDirigeable.jpg|thumb|The navigable balloon developed by [[Henri Dupuy de Lôme]] in 1872]]

====17th–18th century====
In 1670, the [[Jesuit]] Father [[Francesco Lana de Terzi]], sometimes referred to as the "Father of [[Aeronautics]]",<ref>{{cite web | title = Francesco Lana-Terzi, S.J. (1631–1687); The Father of Aeronautics | url = http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/sj/scientists/lana.htm | access-date = 24 July 2010 | archive-date = 24 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210424104423/http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/sj/scientists/lana.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> published a description of an "Aerial Ship" supported by four copper spheres from which the air was evacuated. Although the basic principle is sound, such a craft was unrealizable then and remains so to the present day, since external air pressure would cause the spheres to collapse unless their thickness was such as to make them too heavy to be buoyant.<ref>{{cite web | title = Would a balloon filled with vacuum instead of helium float? | date=April 2000 | url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/question194.htm | access-date = 24 July 2010}}</ref> A hypothetical craft constructed using this principle is known as a ''[[vacuum airship]]''.

In 1709, the Brazilian-Portuguese Jesuit priest [[Bartolomeu de Gusmão]] made a hot air balloon, the Passarola, ascend to the skies, before an astonished Portuguese court. It would have been on August 8, 1709, when Father Bartolomeu de Gusmão held, in the courtyard of the [[Casa da Índia]], in the city of Lisbon, the first Passarola demonstration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chronology of Aviation History from 1700 to 1799|url=https://www.skytamer.com/1700-1799.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=www.skytamer.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Science Source Stock Photos & Video – Passarola, Bartolomeu de Gusmao's Airship, 1709|url=https://www.sciencesource.com/archive/Image/Passarola--Bartolomeu-de-Gusmao-s-Airship--1709-SS2732612.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=www.sciencesource.com}}</ref> The balloon caught fire without leaving the ground, but, in a second demonstration, it rose to 95 meters in height. It was a small balloon of thick brown paper, filled with hot air, produced by the "fire of material contained in a clay bowl embedded in the base of a waxed wooden tray". The event was witnessed by King [[John V of Portugal]] and the future [[Pope Innocent XIII]].<ref name="Sousa 2014">{{cite conference <!-- Citation bot bypass--> |last=Louro |first=F.V. |last2=Melo De Sousa |first2=Joao M. |title=Father Bartholomeu Lourenço de Gusmão: a Charlatan or the First Practical Pioneer of Aeronautics in History |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |publication-place=Reston, Virginia |date=2014-01-10 |isbn=9781624102561 |doi=10.2514/6.2014-0282 |oclc=1237189987 |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2014-0282 |page= |conference=52nd Aerospace Sciences Meeting |conference-url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/book/10.2514/masm14}}</ref>

A more practical dirigible airship was described by Lieutenant [[Jean Baptiste Marie Meusnier]] in a paper entitled "{{lang|fr|Mémoire sur l'équilibre des machines aérostatiques}}" (Memorandum on the equilibrium of aerostatic machines) presented to the [[French Academy]] on 3 December 1783. The 16 water-color drawings published the following year depict a {{convert|260|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} streamlined envelope with internal ballonets that could be used for regulating lift: this was attached to a long carriage that could be used as a boat if the vehicle was forced to land in water. The airship was designed to be driven by three propellers and steered with a sail-like aft rudder. In 1784, [[Jean-Pierre Blanchard]] fitted a hand-powered propeller to a balloon, the first recorded means of propulsion carried aloft. In 1785, he crossed the [[English Channel]] in a balloon equipped with flapping wings for propulsion and a birdlike tail for steering.<ref>Winter & Degner (1933), pp. 26–27.</ref>

====19th century====
[[File:1849_ad_for_Rufus_Porter's_New-York-to-California_transport.jpg|thumb|1849 Rufus Porter design]]
The [[timeline of aviation – 19th century|19th century]] saw continued attempts to add methods of propulsion to balloons. [[Rufus Porter (painter)|Rufus Porter]] built and flew scale models of his "Aerial Locomotive", but never a successful full-size implementation.<ref>McPherson, Gregg (2010) [https://techalmanac.blogspot.com/2010/03/rufus-porter-and-dream-of-flight.html Rufus Porter and the Dream of Flight] Technology Almanac</ref> The Australian [[William Bland]] sent designs for his "[[Atmotic airship]]" to the [[The Great Exhibition|Great Exhibition]] held in London in 1851, where a model was displayed. This was an elongated balloon with a steam engine driving twin propellers suspended underneath. The lift of the balloon was estimated as 5&nbsp;tons and the car with the fuel as weighing 3.5&nbsp;tons, giving a payload of 1.5&nbsp;tons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2032274|title=Airship Honours for Australia. – Bland's Remarkable Invention More Than 70 Years Ago. – The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957) – 13 Sep 1924|work=nla.gov.au|date=13 September 1924 |access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/visions-of-a-flying-machine/2006/05/10/1146940613357.html|title=Visions of a flying machine |work=National – smh.com.au|date=11 May 2006|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> Bland believed that the machine could be driven at {{convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and could fly from Sydney to London in less than a week.<!--This figure is nonsense: London–Sidney is c. 10,500 mi-->

In 1852, [[Henri Giffard]] became the first person to make an engine-powered flight when he flew {{convert|27|km|abbr=on}} in a [[Giffard dirigible|steam-powered airship]].<ref>Winter & Degner (1933), p. 36.</ref> Airships would develop considerably over the next two decades. In 1863, [[Solomon Andrews (inventor)|Solomon Andrews]] flew his aereon design, an unpowered, controllable dirigible in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and offered the device to the U.S. Military during the Civil War.<ref>Glazer, Stephen D. [http://jrul.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/jrul/article/view/1865/3298 "Rutgers in the Civil War"], ''Journal of the Rutgers University Libraries'' Vol. 66 (2014), p. 102</ref> He flew a later design in 1866 around New York City and as far as Oyster Bay, New York. This concept used changes in lift to provide propulsive force, and did not need a powerplant. In 1872, the French naval architect [[Henri Dupuy de Lôme|Dupuy de Lome]] launched a large navigable balloon, which was driven by a large propeller turned by eight men.<ref>[[#Brooks1992|Brooks 1992]] p. 19.</ref> It was developed during the [[Franco-Prussian war]] and was intended as an improvement to the balloons used for communications between Paris and the countryside during the [[Siege of Paris (1870–1871)|siege of Paris]], but was completed only after the end of the war.

In 1872, [[Paul Haenlein]] flew an airship with an internal combustion engine running on the coal gas used to inflate the envelope, the first use of such an engine to power an aircraft.<ref>Winter & Degner (1933), p. 44.</ref><ref name="Mattos">Bento S. Mattos, [http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMASM06_778/PV2006_328.pdf Short History of Brazilian Aeronautics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726115643/http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMASM06_778/PV2006_328.pdf |date=2013-07-26 }} (PDF), 44th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, Nevada, 9–12 January 2006.</ref> [[Charles F. Ritchel]] made a public demonstration flight in 1878 of his hand-powered one-man rigid airship, and went on to build and sell five of his aircraft.<ref name="Mattos" />

[[File:Dyer Airship Patent Drawing Page 1.png|thumb|Dyer Airship 1874 patent drawing page 1]]
In 1874, [[Micajah Clark Dyer]] filed U.S. Patent 154,654 "Apparatus for Navigating the Air".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hendrick |first1=Bill |title=First in flight – a case for Georgian |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/first-flight-case-for-georgian/AhRDEUU8Umc13xHA2gVx6I/ |access-date=December 29, 2020 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=August 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=00154654&IDKey=A5B9E6BB217B&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r=1%2526p=1%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526d=PALL%2526S1=0154,654.PN.%2526OS=PN/154,654%2526RS=PN/154,654|title=Patent Images|work=uspto.gov|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US154654|title=Micajah dyee|work=google.com|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> It is believed successful trial flights were made between 1872 and 1874, but detailed dates are not available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://therevivalist.info/georgia-first-in-flight-micajah-clark-dyer/|title=Georgia: First in Flight?|work=therevivalist.info|date=9 March 2014|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> The apparatus used a combination of wings and paddle wheels for navigation and propulsion.

{{blockquote|In operating the machinery the wings receive an upward and downward motion, in the manner of the wings of a bird, the outer ends yielding as they are raised, but opening out and then remaining rigid while being depressed. The wings, if desired, may be set at an angle so as to propel forward as well as to raise the machine in the air. The paddle-wheels are intended to be used for propelling the machine, in the same way that a vessel is propelled in water. An instrument answering to a rudder is attached for guiding the machine. A balloon is to be used for elevating the flying ship, after which it is to be guided and controlled at the pleasure of its occupants.<ref>July 31, 1875 article in the Gainesville (Georgia) Eagle</ref>}}

More details can be found in the book about his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourbook.com/BookInfo/IP32675-09.asp|title=Georgia's Pioneer Aviator, Micajah Clark Dyer – From A Leading Self Publishing Company|work=yourbook.com|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref>

In 1883, the first electric-powered flight was made by [[Gaston Tissandier]], who fitted a {{convert|1.5|hp|kW|1|abbr=on}} [[Siemens AG|Siemens]] electric motor to an airship.

The first fully controllable free flight was made in 1884 by [[Charles Renard]] and [[Arthur Constantin Krebs]] in the [[French Army]] airship ''[[La France (airship)|La France]]''. La France made the first flight of an airship that landed where it took off; the {{convert|170|ft|adj=on|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|66000|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} airship covered {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} in 23 minutes with the aid of an {{convert|8.5|hp|kW|1|abbr=on}} electric motor,<ref>Winter & Degner (1933), pp. 49–50.</ref> and a {{convert|435|kg|abbr=on|adj=on}} battery. It made seven flights in 1884 and 1885.<ref name="Mattos" />

In 1888, the design of the Campbell Air Ship, designed by Professor Peter C. Campbell, was built by the Novelty Air Ship Company. It was lost at sea in 1889 while being flown by Professor Hogan during an exhibition flight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scripophily.net/noairshco.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512192026/http://www.scripophily.net/noairshco.html|url-status=dead|title=Scientific American – 27 July 1889|archivedate=May 12, 2011}}</ref>

From 1888 to 1897, [[Friedrich Hermann Wölfert|Friedrich Wölfert]] built three airships powered by [[Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft]]-built petrol engines, the last of which, [[Deutschland (1896 airship)|''Deutschland'']], caught fire in flight and killed both occupants in 1897.<ref>[[#Brooks1992|Brooks 1992]] p. 20.</ref> The 1888 version used a {{convert|2|hp|kW|1|abbr=on}} single cylinder Daimler engine and flew {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Canstatt]] to [[Kornwestheim]].<ref>[http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f62/mercedes-benz-museum-trip-ii-beginning-52297/ Mercedes-Benz Museum (Trip II): The beginning], ''gminsidenews.com'', 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.zeppelin-tourismus.de/en/rund0208e.pdf Member's Circular Letter February 2008], {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227054344/http://www.zeppelin-tourismus.de/en/rund0208e.pdf |date=February 27, 2012 }} ''zeppelin-tourismus.de''.</ref>

[[File:Santos-Dumont flight around the Eiffel Tower.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Santos-Dumont number 6|Santos-Dumont No. 6]] rounding the [[Eiffel Tower]] in 1901]]

In 1897, an airship with an aluminum envelope was built by the [[Hungarian people|Hungarian]]-[[Croatian people|Croatian]] engineer [[David Schwarz (aviation inventor)|David Schwarz]]. It made its first flight at [[Tempelhof International Airport|Tempelhof field]] in Berlin after Schwarz had died. His widow, Melanie Schwarz, was paid 15,000 marks by Count [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]] to release the industrialist [[Carl Berg (airship builder)|Carl Berg]] from his exclusive contract to supply Schwartz with [[aluminium]].<ref>[[#Brooks1992|Brooks 1992]] pp. 27–31.</ref>

From 1897 to 1899, Konstantin Danilewsky, medical doctor and inventor from [[Kharkiv|Kharkov]], built four muscle-powered airships, of gas volume {{convert|150|–|180|m3|abbr=on}}. About 200 ascents were made within a framework of experimental flight program, at two locations, with no significant incidents.<ref>Bill Welker. [https://welweb.org/ThenandNow/Danilewsky.html ''Airships of Konstantin Danilewsky''. Then-and-Now project, publication January 2018]</ref><ref>(2019) ''AirBike...1897''. Ed. by A. B. Akimov and W. J. Welker. Sapphire Publications, US, 342 p. {{ISBN|978-1-62374-015-3}} (Digital edition) [https://airbike.welweb.org Free download]. Late 1800s work of Dr. Konstantin Dalilewsky to solve the problem of human flight presented for the first time in English. Including reproduction of the original Russian and German 1900 editions.</ref>