1. Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment
History of Flight
Revision 1.00

2. History of Flight
Learning Outcome 1: Have an appreciation of the history of lighter-than-air craft and the methods of control applied to airships

3. Objectives
Describe the evolution of manned flight from balloons to airships.
2. Explain why balloons fly.
3. Explain how modern airships are controlled.

4. History of Flight Man takes to the Air!! Or does he? Leonardo da Vinci

5. History of Flight 6 Jan 1745 – 2 Aug 1799 26 Aug 1740 – 26 Jun 1810
Etienne Montgolfier
6 Jan 1745 – 2 Aug 1799
Joseph Montgolfier
26 Aug 1740 – 26 Jun 1810
Hot Air Balloon
12m diameter,
Rose 305m (1000 ft).
25 April 1783
Annonay in France

6. History of Flight King Louis XVI not impressed, but did offer finance.
19 September 1793
King Louis XVI
not impressed,
but did offer
finance.
Montgolfier Brothers

7. History of Flight Died with Pierre Romain 30 Mar 1754 – 15 Jun 1785
trying
to cross the
English Channel.
30 Mar 1754 – 15 Jun 1785
Francois Pilatre de Rozier
with Marquis d’Alandes,
9km flight.

8. History of Flight Hydrogen filled balloon Jacques Charles
12 Nov 1746 – 7 Apr 1823
1 Dec 1793
Flew 43 km (27 miles)
Witnessed by 400,000 people.

9. Flew half a mile and 350 ft high.
History of Flight
First Flight on 27 Aug 1784.
30 ft diameter/40 ft high.
Filled with Hot Air.
Flew half a mile and 350 ft high.
James Tytler

10. How do Balloons Fly? Imagine a Balloon the size of a house!
It has ½ tonne of Helium.
It will Displace about 4 tonnes of Air.
Help
The difference between these 2
weights is the Lifting Force.

11. How do Balloons Fly? Hot Air inside the Balloon is Less Dense than
the Air Outside.

12. Airships

13. How are Airships Controlled?
Helium
Ballonets
Tail Arrangements
Air Valves
Air Pump

14. Airships- Ascends Helium Ballonets Contract Tail Arrangements
Air Valves
Air Pump
Air released into atmosphere reducing weight and
allowing the Helium gas to expand, giving more Lift.

15. Airships- Descends Ballonets Expand Air Pump
Air pumped into the Ballonets adding weight and
compressing the Helium gas so that Lift is reduced.

16. Airships – Problems? Hindenberg Disaster – 6 May 1937 What was it
filled with?
Hydrogen!

17. The Present Stephane Rousson (39)
At 8 am, on 28 Sep 08, Stephane Rousson attempted to
cross the English Channel from Hythe in Kent to Wissan
in France. The attempt failed 11 miles from the
destination due to strong headwinds. He was recovered
by boat to France.

18. The Future

19. Objectives
Describe the evolution of manned flight from balloons to airships.
2. Explain why balloons fly.
3. Explain how modern airships are controlled.

20. Questions In which year did the Montgolfier brothers first fly their
Hot Air Balloon?
1673.
1783.
1883.
1973.

21. Questions Who first flew a man-carrying Hydrogen-filled Balloon?
Leonardo da Vinci.
Montgolfier.
Charles.
De Rozier.

22. What are modern Airships filled with?
Questions
What are modern Airships filled with?
Helium.
Hydrogen.
Butane.
Propane.

23. Questions An Airship rises when:
The Ballonets empty and the Helium gas expands.
The Ballonets empty and the Helium gas is compressed.
The Ballonets are filled with air and the Helium gas is
compressed.
The Ballonets are filled with air and the Helium gas
expands.