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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.

nine airships flying
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.

nine airships flying

Stories

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An Unparalleled Vantage Point: The USS Los Angeles and the 1925 Solar Eclipse Garland Fulton on Airships and Lift Gases
A Firsthand Account of an Airship's 1920s Crossing of the U.S. Are We in an Airship Renaissance? AirSpace Season 7, Episode 9: By Land, By Sea, By Dirigible
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Exhibitions

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Learn more Clouds in a Bag Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
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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

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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

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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

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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

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Publications

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Learn more The Eagle Aloft: Two Centuries of the Balloon in America Learn more Lighter Than Air: An Illustrated History of Balloons and Airships
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