> they could have been 'sails' to help steer it
Sails are useless in a balloon. The only way to steer a balloon without a propeller is to raise and lower its altitude seeking a wind blowing in the right direction.
Sails are useless in a balloon. The only way to steer a balloon without a propeller is to raise and lower its altitude seeking a wind blowing in the right direction.
Add a fin to a baloon and you can steer it.
And once the baloon can hold direction in the wind with the help of the fin, you can add sail to actually get some propulsion in direction other than wind.
There is no keel on a balloon. Without a keel, one is only going downwind.
Mind == blown*
*Sincere, but pun intended