The Forgotten History of Dirigible Aircraft

Dirigible is an old-fashioned term for a rigid airship, which is a type of aircraft that is kept aloft by gas bags filled with lifting gases, such as helium or hydrogen. The term "dirigible" was commonly used in the early 20th century to describe these types of aircraft, but it has largely fallen out of use since the development of more modern forms of aviation technology.

The word "dirigible" comes from the French word "diriger," which means "to direct." This refers to the fact that early airships were steered by a crew on board the vessel, who would use control surfaces and engines to guide the aircraft through the air.

Today, the term "dirigible" is mostly used in historical or nostalgic contexts, to refer to the old-fashioned airships that were once a common sight in the skies.