Airships

The first lighter-than-air craft was little more than an oversized basket attached to an envelope made of rubberized canvas. Inflated by hot air from gas burners, these stationary craft were used for observation, but were little good for anything else.
Further development of steam engine technology, however, allowed for much smaller engines that could be loaded onto small wooden ships, which could be rigged to the canvas envelopes. This allowed the craft to be navigated, untethered, across the landscape. While the technology is still in its infancy (and very expensive) it is hopeful that airships will one day become commonplace transportation.

Parent Technologies

• Steam Engines