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Airships offered the first way to navigate while in the air. These powered, lighter-than-air craft can be controlled, unlike balloons that go wherever the wind blows. For a time, airships were considered a serious rival to the new airplanes.

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Aviation
Spaceflight
Astronomy
Behind the scenes
People
Records and Firsts
Science
Society and Culture
Technology and Engineering
War and Conflict

Airships offered the first way to navigate while in the air. These powered, lighter-than-air craft can be controlled, unlike balloons that go wherever the wind blows. For a time, airships were considered a serious rival to the new airplanes.

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Stories

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Airship LZ-126 arrives at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, after a flight across the Atlantic from Germany, 15 October 1924. After delivery to the U.S. Navy, it became the USS Los Angeles (ZR-3). Note that the airship has no markings. (Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 42024.)
Story

An Unparalleled Vantage Point: The USS Los Angeles and the 1925 Solar Eclipse

Portrait of a man in military uniform with arms folded.
Story

Garland Fulton on Airships and Lift Gases

The black and white photo shows a crowd of people dwarfed by a massive airship with the marking "ZR-1"
Story

A Firsthand Account of an Airship's 1920s Crossing of the U.S.

A black-and-white photo, tinged light brown, shows around 3/4 of massive airship as it exits a pitch black hangar opening.
Story

Are We in an Airship Renaissance?

AirSpace, a podcast, logo
Story

AirSpace Season 7, Episode 9: By Land, By Sea, By Dirigible

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On demand

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A craft activity video with instructions on how to make a balloon basket craft.
Video

Craft Time: Make a Balloon Basket

September 14, 2021
A tour of Clouds in a Bag exhibition at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
Video

Ask an Expert: Early Ballooning Art and Culture

May 10, 2017
A video from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta surrounding the science and history of air balloons.
Video

STEM in 30 - A Sky Full of Color: Live from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

October 06, 2016
A video exploring the underwater crash site of an airship aircraft carrier.
Video

The Underwater Crash Site of USS Macon

August 18, 2015
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From the Collection

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Blimp, Goodyear, Control Car -GZ-20, L-5 (C-49)

Object

LZ 129 Hindenburg Disaster Letter

Archival Record

Insulation, Receiver, High Frequency Radio, Experimental, Airship, Shenandoah

Object
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Exhibitions

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Decorative Fan from the Kendall Collection
Exhibition

Clouds in a Bag

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
On View Exhibition
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Learning Resources

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My Path: Captain Sterling Gilliam, Director, National Naval Aviation Museum Have you ever wondered how important people get to where they are? National Naval Aviation Museum director, Captain Sterling Gilliam, shares his path in this segment brought to you by STEM in 30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qhvV0Bvz4w&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_VvN6SkGaFShkAyOcNX8Rry&index=5 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Aircraft, Airships, Aviation, Behind the scenes, Military aviation, People

Student

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 My Path: CDR Ray "Gator" Stromberger Commander Ray Stromberger talks about the path that led him to becoming the navigator aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DG-PcZfAWk&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_VvN6SkGaFShkAyOcNX8Rry&index=4 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Airships, Aviation, Behind the scenes, Technology and Engineering, Military aviation

Student

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 My Path: TOPGUN Graduate and National Air and Space Museum Director Chris Browne Learn about National Air and Space Museum Deputy Director Chris Browne's path through naval aviation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4pCkjohKz8 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Aircraft, Airships, Aviation, Behind the scenes, Military aviation, People

Student

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 My Path: CDR Ray Gator Stromberger Commander Ray Stromberger talks about the path that led him to becoming the navigator aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DG-PcZfAWk&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_VvN6SkGaFShkAyOcNX8Rry&index=4 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Airships, Aviation, Behind the scenes, Technology and Engineering, Military aviation

Student

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 Lift: Lighter Than Air Aircraft Learn about the history and dynamics of hot-air balloons. http://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/lift-lighter-air-aircraft Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Airships, Balloons, Science

Student

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 Lighter Than Air Helium and hot–air balloons float in air, but how? Is floating a type of flying? http://howthingsfly.si.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/LighterThanAir.pdf Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Balloons, Airships, Science

Student

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Publications

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Book cover: The Eagle Aloft
Publication

The Eagle Aloft: Two Centuries of the Balloon in America

Book Cover: Lighter Than Air
Publication

Lighter Than Air: An Illustrated History of Balloons and Airships

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