Air travel in the age of steam became a reality when the first dirigible, created by Henri Giffard made its maiden voyage from Paris to Trappes (in France). Filled with hydrogen, powered by a 3 HP steam engine, and weighing over 400 lb, the world’s first passenger-carrying airship was both practical (as long as you were careful about lighting that match) and steerable (as long as the winds weren’t too strong).