Who invented the first airship?
Of the hundreds of inventors granted patents for early airship (and airplane) designs and variations, few succeeded in building or flying their craft. 1784 > J.B.M. Meusnier made several suggestions on how to improve the handling and flight characteristics: changing the shape of the balloon from a sphere to the shape of a football in order to reduce air resistance and also establish a front and rear; an envelope made of several compartments and a passenger car shaped like a boat attached to the bottom of the airship. 1852 > Henri Giffard invented the powered navigable airship — a cigar-shaped balloon 114 feet long and 39 feet in diameter. The airship was powered by a three- horsepower steam engine which could propel it at a speed of approximately 5 mph. 1884 > Charles Renard and Arthur Krebs built the La France airship which featured an electric motor and improved steering capabilities. 1898 > Alberto Santos Dumont (1873-1932) was the first to construct and fly a gasoline-powered airs
