Bijou airship design, 18th century C016 / 4488
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Bijou airship design, 18th century C016 / 4488
Bijou airship design. 18th-century drawing and design (with French text) for an airship, proposed by a French inventor Stoupy Bijou. The proposal is titled Le veritable navigateur aerien. This design was published in Paris, France, in around 1790. It shows an airship consisting of five balloons fastened to a sixty-foot (18.2 metres) mast, a rudder, two 12-foot-long (3.6 metres) oars (either side of the basket), and two polygonal vanes (sails) that would be used to control the rise and fall of the airship. The original proposal by Bijou dates from 1784. The Montgolfier brothers had given the first public demonstration of their hot air balloon in 1783
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Media ID 9204931
© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1700s 1790 18th Century Aeronautics Aircraft Airship Aviation Balloon Ballooning Blueprint Design Dirigible Early Etching France French Language History Of Flight Invention Mast Paris Pioneer Pioneering Printed Text Proposal Proposed Rudder Sails Transport Transportation 1784 Vanes
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the innovative Bijou airship design from the 18th century. Created by French inventor Stoupy Bijou, this blueprint titled "Le veritable navigateur aerien" was published in Paris around 1790. The intricate illustration depicts an airship composed of five balloons tethered to a towering sixty-foot mast, equipped with a rudder and two twelve-foot-long oars on either side of the basket. Additionally, two polygonal vanes or sails are featured, enabling control over the airship's ascent and descent. Originally conceived in 1784, this visionary proposal predates the famous Montgolfier brothers' public demonstration of their hot air balloon in 1783. The historical significance of this artwork lies within its pioneering nature as it represents one of the earliest attempts at creating a navigable aircraft. The etching transports us back to a time when aviation was still in its infancy, offering insight into early transportation methods and advancements in aeronautics. With its rich history rooted in France, this design serves as an important milestone along Europe's journey towards flight exploration. Preserved by the Library of Congress and made available through Science Photo Library, this remarkable image provides us with a glimpse into the past—a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of progress in conquering new frontiers.
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