I remember airships being brought up as a topic of discussion at some point, so here's some actual information about where we stand in their development today.
Re: Real-world Airships I've always wanted to use airships in one of my fantasy projects. However, I don't want to include other technology that'd logically have to be around if airships were, as such I just can't get Final Fantasy out of my mind.
Re: Real-world Airships You could use airships in a fantasy would that has a special land feature like a gyser but instead of shooting up water, make it stream out gases. IT makes anyone in the area a bit tipsy, but one day say someone tried to fill a bladder with it and it floated away
Boom! instant fantasy airship industry
--- Reading: Mistborn
Writing: Eriadhin
"Life is like a book, except it takes longer to get to the climax."
Re: Real-world Airships Alas, LoudG, that's not an "airship" in the sense of a dirigible. It's just a big hot air balloon. And those certainly are buildable based off of earlier technology than true (framed and steerable) airships are.
A good example of a hot air balloon being used in a 18-19th century setting fantasy can be found in the "Golden Compass" series. Others too, I'm sure. "Around the World in 80 Days" springs to mind.
-- YAR!
I don't suppose any one here feels like trying it out though, right? 