A steampunk museum will be hosting a new exhibition this month which will showreel the aerostats of war.

The Lighter than Aircraft Exhibition, which opened this week, will be running at Langford’s Museum of Power from November 6 to November 24.

Focusing on Airships, Blimps, Zeppelins and all things lighter than aircraft, the exhibition explores the history of the airships that crashed in Essex during the First World War.

Debbie Thomas, Museum Manager, said: “The exhibition will explain the evolution of the earliest hot air powered balloons through the early craft with gas filled canopies.

“It then explains the move to the Dirigible Crafts that were filled with the highly inflammable Hydrogen gas inspired by the design of Count Von Zeppelin and the later Zeppelin design adopted in the 30’s by the American craft whose canopies were filled with the more inert Helium.

“The story culminates in looking at how these craft have played a major part in many films and what the future of air ships may hold as pioneered by the latest multi-purpose ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Airlander’ projects, which followed similar principles.

“The exhibition will consist of pictures and text, supported by artefacts in the form of models of Zeppelin craft and artefacts associated with the Zeppelin raids of WWI and crashes within the local area.”

Hot air balloons and dirigibles were first used for military observation in the French Revolutionary Wars.

The balloons would float behind the front lines, where an observer could locate distant enemy targets and relay their positions to artillery on ground.

Debbie added: “We believe that the temporary exhibition will be of interest to all ages through its reflection of how these craft have played a significant part in the evolution of travel.

“It also highlights the social stories of those involved in the development and manufacturing throughout history, their impact on many stories created through film and media and what brave new concepts are being developed to push technology forward for our future … is the sky the limit?”

The exhibition will be held from Wednesdays to Sundays between 10am – 4pm.

Entry costs £6 for adults and £2.50 for children.

To find out more, visit museumofpower.org.uk.