During Greek times a great mathematician, Archimedes discovered the principle of buoyancy (ability to float). This fact helped in the progress of true flight. Two thousand years later men used this principle to help them with the hot air balloon.

One of these men, an Englishman, Roger Bacon made a flying machine that was a balloon shape. He wrote about his invention in the book "The Wonderful Power of Art and Nature".

But it was two Frenchmen, the Montgolfier's brothers who flew a hot air balloon many years later in 1783. Their flight is named the first manned lighter-than-air flight. The people who were watching the sight were so shocked that there was a great quiet as they watched this happening. Practical (useful) air travel had begun.

For many years other men built hot air balloons and flew them. But there was no ability to power or control the balloons. These problems needed to be looked at because the wind alone made the flight pattern. The shortcomings of the balloon were recognized as quickly as its success. So, many people studied ways to add power or control to balloons.

Then a new Frenchman, Henri Gifford flew a balloon that moved with steam. This was a great thing. It moved at an average speed of 6.7 mph. The first really controllable airship that could be steered back to its starting point regardless of the wind was built by Charles Renard and A.C. Krebs in 1884.

Fifty years later a German man, Zeppelin used an engine to fly balloons. These became very famous. They flew 18 mph and had a rigid metal frame that kept the balloon in flight even if gas or power was lost. The Zeppelin design was copied and improved by others throughout the world. One such airship was 3 times larger than a Boeing 747 and cruised at 68 mph. It made regular flights from Europe to South America in which 24 people had their own suites and dined from menus prepared by famous chefs.

Count von Zeppelin		Zeppelin

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Last modified: Mon May 25 18:44:19 PDT 1998