Historic Airships

A collection of vintage airship images, showcasing early aviation with distinct designs and atmospheric settings, featuring heavy clouds and various landscapes.

M9 airship, World War I

The German Bodensee airship, sent to Italy and arriving at Ciampino airport, Rome, Italy, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLVIII, No 28, July 10, 1922.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Beta flying in front of the airship sheds. The photograph is slightly underexposed.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War Nulli Secundus II close to the ground, note the distorted envelope. This was an enlarged version of the original Nulli Secundus and used the same Antoinette Engine. The airship was only operated for around two months before being scrapped.

May 1912. Crossing the Atlantic by airship. The "Suchard" balloon and its boat, formed by an unsinkable canoe.

M9 airship, World War I

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War DERA FARNBOROUGH (ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT). An unidentified airship close to the ground a rope can be seen hanging down from the gondola is being held by several soldiers on the ground.' In fact, this image is of the Willows airship No. 4, completed in 1912.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Baby in flight, note the differences between this version of the airship and probably later photographs (e.g. RAE-O 447 and RAE-O 453) in particular the lack of an upper fin on the envelope and the uncovered gondola.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War DERA FARNBOROUGH (ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT). Lebaudy Airship in flight. The airship was paid for through subscription by readers of the Morning Post newspaper.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Beta on the ground with a group of handlers.

10/31/1910. The Airships of the English Government. Arrival of the "Clement Bayard" Balloon at Wormwood, at the moment of leaving "City Of Cardiff" which is the one seen high above.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Beta I being pulled by a group of handlers.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The Beta airship on the ground with handlers and spectators.

Zeppelin LZ 5 at Goeppingen, Germany, 1909 (1933). Artist: Unknown

Zeppelin Passenger ship

Opa Locka, Florida 1934The USS Navy airship Macon in Florida after its cross country journey from Moffett Field in Mountain View, California.

Dirigible returns to Moffett as people watch (1933)

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The Leabaudy airship in flight close to the ground with a cody aircraft in flight in the distance.

German dirigible

Paris (France), 1906. The new French military airship 'Patrie', by the construction engineer Mr. Juchmes.

Balloon, attachment to the winch.

Willow Dirigible

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War An SS (sea scout) class blimp flying. The gondola is a BE 2c with its wings and tail removed. Comment: this class was introduced in 1915.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The Lebaudy airship in flight.

The third Gordon Bennett balloon race, Anonymous, 1908.

Flight experiments with the Ville de Paris balloon-airship in Sartrouville, France, photograph by M Branger, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXIII, No 47, November 25, 1906.

Engraving depicting David Schwarz's aluminium airship, the first metal airship. David Schwarz (1850-1897) an Austro-Hungarian-Croatian aviation pioneer of Jewish descent. Dated 19th Century

The King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III's flight on the Airship Roma, Italy, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XVLII, No 40, October 3, 1920.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Gamma II on the ground in front of the airship sheds. In the distance another airship can be seen in the air.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Beta flying in front of and above the airship sheds and workshops scattered groups of civilians are watching.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The Lebaudy airship in flight in the middle distance.

Anefo photo collection. Ballon race "Trophee du balloon libre" starts in Hengelo / affected. June 16, 1957. Hengelo, Overijssel

Mystery Fire In World's Biggest Liner: Police Seal Scene Of Fire On "Queen Elizabeth -- Shattered windows of the Queen Elizabeth, where firemen had forced an entry into the liner to gain admittance to the centre of the fire, at Southampton docks. Police have taken charge of the part of the 85,000 ton liner Queen Elizabeth, where fire broke out and blazed for nearly two hours as the vessel lay in Southampton Docks. Considerable damage has been caused in the ship's hospital, where the fire broke out in a small medical store; while the cause of the fire investigated. March 08, 1946.

Friedrichshafen, Germany, 9/4/1929. End of the trip around the world. When the Count Zeppelin airship arrives at the airport, after its admirable journey, it is received with clamorous expressions of enthusiasm.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War DERA FARNBOROUGH (ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT). The Gamma airship in the distance flying over the main airship shed and the portable one beyond it, note the large group of Royal Engineers in the foreground.

409E - "Los Angeles" (U.S. Navy Dirigible) - Aviation. June 6, 1942.

11/09/1909. The "Spain" airship balloon. The aerostat as it begins its ascent for a Duration.Aviation test. (Filiatre photo).

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War DERA FARNBOROUGH (ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT). The Gamma airship after it was reconstructed in 1912 about to land or just taking off.

Soviet Airships by Shagin, Ivan Mikhaylovich (1904-1982)/Russian State Film and Photo Archive, Krasnogorsk/1936/Photograph/Russia/Genre

Alberto Santos-Dumont's airship No. 14 on the sands at Trouville, France. From 'La Vie au Grand Air', Paris, 1 September 1905. Dirigible Steerable Aviation Aeronautics

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War Army airship Beta in flight a small group of women and children are watching.

Zeppelin Flies Over San Francisco -- An air view of the Graf Zeppelin over Oakland, Cal. After circling over the heart of the city, giving San Franciscans a thrill they will never forget, the Graf Zeppelin sailed southward toward Los Angeles at 6:58pm tonight. For nearly half an hour the Graf hovered above San Francisco, only four of its five motors running, and those throttled down to about 60 miles an hour. August 25, 1929. (Photo by Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Inc.).

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A de Havilland biplane on the ground.

Illustration depicting a hot-air balloon assisting in the search of a man lost at sea by shinning a huge light into the night sky. Dated 19th Century

Aeronautics. balloon 1920.

An English Royal Flying Corps plane is ready to leave for the Western Front, 1914 - 1918 photograph Official press photo of a British plane from the First World War approved by the British censorship. The photo contains censorship stamp and title and data in Typoscript (Verso). Englandpublisher: London gelatin silver print aircraft, aeroplane

THE R.101 : hundreds of men are required to manoeuvre the cumbersome airship on the ground, preparatory to its disastrous first (and last) flight Date: November 1929

Flight attempt by the Renner brothers in Prater , Verlag or k, University bookstore R, Lechner Wilh, Müller, photographer, publisher

Anefo photo collection. Fly party Soesterberg. Princely family balloon steering. 13 June 1948. Soesterberg, Utrecht

1920s 1930s GRAF ZEPPELIN GERMAN PASSENGER AIRSHIP MINES FIELD LOS ANGELES CA USA

Anefo photo collection. Balloon steering at East and West. September 28, 1947

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War Cody aircraft mark II in flight with an airship flying above. Cody built this aircraft in 1910; the previous aircraft had been in several crashes and was suffering generally from constant usage. The design of this aircraft followed similar lines to the previous one though the wingspan was shorter by around six feet and the wing area around a third smaller. The single propeller was originally intended to be powered by two 60 hp Green engines (mark IIA) though problems with synchronicity meant that this was never carried out. This did mean that the aircraft was underpowered though alterations to the engine and the removal of excess weight partly solved this problem (marks IIB to IID). When this engine was replaced with a 120 hp Austro-Daimler, the aircraft performed well, and in January 1912 carried Cody and four passengers. It was eventually crashed by Lieut. J N Fletcher on the 5th April whilst Cody was teaching him to fly. It was also in

Aerostat preparation in Istanbul before takeoff, 1909, Turkey, photo by Maurizio Galli, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXVI, No 41, October 10, 1909.

The basket of a hot-air balloon with two men inside, and an engine with propellors. Process print after E.A Tillyson.

Officina gas di Bovisa. 1909. Photographs. Music Division. Toscanini, Arturo, 1867-1957, Balloons (Aircraft), Milan (Italy)

AEROSTATICO ELECTRICO DIRIGIBLE DE LOS HERMANOS TISSANDIER ENSAYADO EN PARIS EL 26 DE SEPTIEMBRE ULTIMO - GRABADO SIGLO XIX.

Airship powered by an electric motor developed by Albert and Gaston Tissandier departing from Auteuil Paris France October 8 1883. It was the world's first electric powered flight. LC-DIG-ppmsca-02461

Maria Christina of Austria (1858-1929). Queen of Spain. Ascent of the Queen Regent in aerostat, accompanied by the colonel of engineers Mr. Ayllon. Engraving by Rico in The Spanish and American Illustration, 1889.

1880s BALLOON INDEPENDENCE PREPARING FOR ASCENT IN PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA USA

The America Zeppelin Zr 3 at a hangar in Friedrichshafen, Anonymous, 1924 photograph A zeppelin in the air with a hangar on the floor and buildings in the background Friedrichshafen photographic support gelatin silver print

Concurso de globos aerostáticos en el barrio del Pueblo Nuevo, en Barcelona. Año 1908.

Bathyscaph - INVENTED BY AGUSTE PICCARD IN 1947 TO EXPLORE THE SEA. Author: AUGUSTE PICCARD.

Zeppelin LZ 3, 1914, (1932). Creator: Unknown.

Gaston and Albert TISSANDIER's first project for a dirigible powered by electricity : a modified version flew two years later. Date: 1881

Engraving depicting a French air-ship in it's hanger. Dated 19th Century

Wreck of German airhsip

This glider came down perfectly, as evidenced by the landing gear, still intact. It probably was burned by the crew.

The Zeppelin L.49 captured by the French, anonymous photograph, postcard. Paris, Carnavalet museum. Zeppelin L.-49 captured by the French. first World War. 1914-18, soldier Capture, postcard, airship, crushing, l 49, first world war, zeppelin

1896-BALLOON TRIP IN FRANCE-AEROSTATION-ENGRAVING.

Photo collection Government information service. New Guinea, Indonesia. undated. New Guinea

Augsburg (Bavaria). January 1911. The smallest airship in the world: first departure of the airship balloon invented by the Swedish engineer Forsman and built for the Russian government.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The Gamma airship gondola along with some handlers and mechanics. This photograph was taken from further away and shows more of the framework of the gondola.

Austrian areal balloon in Konstanjevica. .

12/31/1908. The Balloon "Victoria" Beginning an ascent near the racecourse.

NY. October 1928. The airship "Count Zeppelin", upon arrival in New York, sailing over the skyscrapers.

Elsevier photo collection. Air balloon competition Paris. 1922. France, Paris

Explosion of German airship Hindenburg

Barcelona. October 1929. The airship "Conde de Zepellin" flying over the National Palace upon its arrival in Barcelona, on the occasion of German Week.

A diagram showing how the British R101 airship dived twice and crashed on a hillside of Allonne, near Beauvais, France on 5th October 1930 on its maiden voyage. Despite the giant airship being 777 feet in length, its altitude for much of the voyage was less than 1500 feet. Date: 1930

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War British Army Aircraft I fitted with propellers but without an engine, with a group of sailors plus a civilian worker posing in front. Cody began building the British Army Aircraft I in 1907 with the design similar to the kites and glider that he had successfully flown. It had twin propellers, chain driven by a single 50 hp Antoinette engine, the propellers were situated behind the leading edge of and between the upper and lower wings. When he had finished building the aircraft Cody carried out an extensive period of tests to the aircraft often involving hops off the ground. Throughout this period of testing there was intense public and press interest with Cody often being ridiculed for his apparent lack of progress in comparison with foreign pilots and designers particularly the Wright brothers who were touring Europe at that time. Cody made the first sustained flight (lasting 27 seconds and for a distance of around 1390 feet) on the 16th

Railing of Nadars Air balloon from site at Palace for Volksvlijt Amsterdam, September 14, 1865 ..

Frank G. Carpenter on lighthouse wharf, Ketchikan. Frank and Frances Carpenter collection , Gift; Mrs. W. Chapin Huntington; 1951, Weights & measures,Alaska,Ketchikan,1910-1920, Piers & wharves,Alaska,Ketchikan,1910-1920, Carpenter, Frank G,(Frank George),,1855-1924, United States,Alaska,Ketchikan

The German airship the Graff Zeppelin flies over Tower Bridge, London, 1931

Anefo photo collection. International balloon steering t.g.v. The celebration of Liberation Day in Rotterdam. May 5, 1960. Rotterdam, South Holland

Departure from Gambetta aboard the Armand-Barbès, St. Peter's Place. (TF)

Swastikas fly on a boat as a Zeppelin flies over head. Date: 1930s

The departure of a French competitor, international balloon competition, Hurlingham, United Kingdom, photo from L'Illustration, No 3406, June 6, 1908.

Graf Zeppelin Over the Great Pyramids

Washington D.C., Aerial Photograph.

The "Graf Zep" Arrives In London -- An aorial view of the famous "Graf Zeppelin" flying over London this evening to the huge delight of many Londoners. August 18, 1931. (Photo by World Wide Photos).;The "Graf Zep" Arrives In London -- An aorial view of the famous "Graf Zeppelin" flying over London this evening to the huge delight of many Londoners.

Crowd in stands, balloon overhead, at start of balloon race, St. Louis

USS Airship the Macon, flying above New York City in 1933

Photo collection First World War. One of the Wrecked Zeppelins. View of the Stern showing the elevators. 1914-1918}. Britain

Montreal, Canada: August, 1930 The British dirigible, the R-100, moored at St.Hubert Field in Montreal after her 78 hour flight from England.

Aviation, 1910: German airship (dirigible) 'Clouth', 1909.

Aviation, 1910: French 'Zodiac' type airship (dirigible)

First Channel Crossing by Air, 1785 - Ballon with paddles Crosses the English Channel in Illustration with ships below, Hot Air Balloons & Derigibles

AH-12 Haven , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Air Parade by Russian Photographer /Moscow Photo Museum (House of Photography)/1930s/Photograph/Russia/Genre,History

Anefo photo collection. International Holland Balloon Race in Arnhem '83. Ballooning, competitions. August 13, 1983. Arnhem, Gelderland

Race within the second district Oct 1921 Sahlstad - Grästorp.

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