How do airships fly?

A blimp or airship controls its buoyancy in the air much like a submarine does in the water. The ballonets act like ballast tanks holding "heavy" air. When the blimp takes off, the pilot vents air from the ballonets through the air valves. The helium makes the blimp positively buoyant in the surrounding air, so the blimp rises. read more

Normally, blimp pilots do not have to add or remove helium from the envelope. However, there is a helium valve on the envelope that can be used to vent helium should the helium pressure exceed its maximum safe limit. read more

Click on the button to see how a blimp ascends and descends. A blimp or airship controls its buoyancy in the air much like a submarine does in the water. The ballonets act like ballast tanks holding "heavy" air. When the blimp takes off, the pilot vents air from the ballonets through the air valves. read more

An airship, like a blimp, achieves lift through the buoyancy provided by the gas, is powered by gasoline or Diesel engines, is steered by large rudders on vertical stabilizers and climbs and descends through the force of elevators attached to horizontal stabilizers. read more