Talk:Un monstre à Paris

Dupuy de Lome

Through the 19th century, the balloons were numerous but their use failed facing the lack of control. Several projects tried to put a fin but without given the possibly to go against the wind.
During the 1870 war between Prussia and France, Paris was surrounded and the only link with the government were doves and mostly balloons. The need of flying without waiting strong winds and to have the ability to choose the direction of the flight led to the study of a dirigible. Ingenior (Stanislas Charles) Henri Laurent DUPUY DE LÔME, already known for his battleships, draw a dirigible with a propeller. This one was actionned by nine sailors through a crankshaft. The flight was performed only in 1872 but thirty years before the real success of Santos Dumont dirigibles.
In this movie, the propeller is moved by a single man through a cycling mechanism.

A french link to better know this pionneer :
http://www.pyperpote.tonsite.biz/listinmae/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277:qdirigeableq-dupuy-de-lome&catid=35:les-reserves-du-musee-de-lair&Itemid=55
Another one in english :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Dupuy_de_L%C3%B4me#Navigable_balloons
LVCDC 05 july 2013