Mist Rare Museum Piece Dirigible Airship Medal, Experiences a L'Etablissement de Chalais Meudon 1885 Medal of the Early Airship Experiments at Chalais-Meudon, France

Identical examples in the Aeronautical and Space Museum of the Met, and the Yale Collection

In 1885, the La France airship continued pioneering, controlled flights at Chalais-Meudon, France, managed by Charles Renard and Arthur Constantin Krebs. Following its 1884 debut, this electric-powered, cigar-shaped dirigible successfully returned to its starting point 5 out of 7 times in 1885, proving the viability of fully controlled, closed-circuit flight before the project was halted due to heavy battery weights.
Key Aspects of the 1885 Chalais-Meudon Experiments:
The Airship La France: The airship, constructed by 1884, was a 50.9-meter-long, 8.4-meter-diameter, elongated balloon designed for stability and control.
1885 Performance: While the inaugural flight was in August 1884, the airship continued to operate in 1885, with its final flight of that series on September 23, 1885. It successfully achieved its goal of maneuvering and returning to its base in the majority of trials.
Key Personnel: Charles Renard and Arthur Constantin Krebs led these experiments, developing advanced, lightweight electric motors for the vessel.
Infrastructure: The flights originated from Hangar Y at Chalais-Meudon, which was the world's first airship hangar.
Significance: Although the heavy, inefficient battery-powered electric motor proved to be a dead end for long-range travel, the 1885 experiments were crucial in proving that steered flight, rather than mere floating, was possible.
Technological Context in 1885:
The experiments were heavily focused on military applications for France.
The work at Chalais-Meudon directly influenced later, more successful, and larger airship designs by demonstrating that controlled flight was achieved.
A commemorative bronze medal, featuring "BALLONS DIRIGEABLES EXPERIENCES A L'ESTABLISSEMENT DE CHALAIS-MEUDON 1885," was issued to mark the significance


Experiences at the Establishment of Chalais Meudon 1885 commemorative medal; Obverse: relief of the mythical figures Icarus and Daedalus depicted, embossed text "LABOR, IMPROBUS, OMNIA VINCIT."; Reverse: relief of a robed female figure pointing at a dirigible depicted, embossed text "SIC ITUR AD ASTRA, BALOONS DIRIGEABLES EXPERIENCES A L'ETABLISSEMENT DE CHALAIS MEUDON 1885"

Code: 26097