"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

"Juergen Nieveler" wrote in message
. ..

No. They're airships. "Aircraft" normally refers to heavier-than-air-
vehicles.


Airships are aircraft. "Aircraft" refers to a vehicle that can fly, no
distinction is made between heavier-than-air and lighter-than-air vehicles.

Yup, an airship is an aircraft as is an airplane, but an airship an
airplane. Or, to quote the FAR under definitions, "'Airship' means an
engine-driven lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered." "'Airplane'
means an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, that is supported
in flight by dynamic reaction of the air against the wings."