Stubby wrote:

Not clear.

Yes, it is.

My understanding is the attitude of an airship is set by
small "ballonettes" with the gas bag. These are controlled by levers on
the ceiling of the pilot's area.

That's correct.

It is not necessary to point the ship
up in order to climb because climbing is accomplished by dumping balast,
water or sand.

They don't dump anything. They point the nose up and use the engine thrust to climb.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.