Airships are a familiar technology in the steampunk genre. Aerostat (lighter-than-air) in design, they differ from the simple hot air balloon in their ability to be steered using propellers and rudders. Today, airships have lost out to the speed, manoeuvrability and comparative safety of the airplane. But the development of the airship long precedes the airplane. The sense of majesty and innovation makes them a perfect steampunk accompaniment. A Brief History The first hot air balloon was invented by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier in France, 1783. Originally paper manufacturers, the Montgolfier brothers experimented with floating paper and fabric bags...
Reporting on the Steampunk world, one cog at a time.
