French Airship Conducts Historic Flights in 1908

Airship makes two flights in 1908

On October 29, 1908, the French airship Clément Bayard conducted two aerial flights, marking a significant moment in early aviation history.

First flight details

The first flight began at 9:00 a.m. and lasted 25 minutes. During this time, the airship flew over the towns of Saint-Germain and Maisons-Laffite, with passengers including Messieurs Guilhelmon, Kapférer, Sabatier, Surcouf, and a mechanic.

Second flight details

In the afternoon, the airship took off for a longer flight that lasted nearly one hour, with exactly 50 minutes spent in the air. This flight carried Messieurs Sabatier, Guilhelmon, Kapférer, Binon, Clément, Charron, and a mechanic over Levallois, Neuilly, and Paris before returning to Sartrouville.

Technical specifications

The Clément Bayard was entirely French-designed, measuring 60 meters in length and 10.50 meters in diameter. It had an envelope with a volume of 3,500 cubic meters and was powered by a 120-horsepower engine driving a single front-mounted propeller.