Commandant Bouttieux - La navigation aérienne par ballons dirigeables - 1909

Commandant Bouttieux. Air navigation by dirigible balloons. Paris, Ch. Delagrave, 1909, 103 pp.

A large-format volume (240x160 mm), half red calfskin binding of the period. Very fine condition of the binding. Interior fresh, without foxing.

Original edition ornamented with 40 illustrations and figures

The author describes the technical functioning of the airships, notably propulsion, lift with helium or hydrogen, and navigation using rudders and instruments.

Bouttieux emphasizes the strategic advantages of airships for reconnaissance, observation, and transport, highlighting their ability to cover long distances while maintaining relative stability in flight. He also addresses the limits and risks, such as vulnerability to weather, the danger of hydrogen, and the need for precise piloting.

Finally, the text highlights the organizational and training challenges involved in effectively operating these craft, stressing the importance of discipline, crew training, and rigor in maintenance.