Nassau Gas Company of Wallabout Bay made an engine that powered an eight-foot diameter propeller under the airship to give it lift.

The rudder, which gave the airship steering, was constructed of a light fabric stretched over a reed frame.

Peter Campbell had with him in the car Professor E. D. Hogan (1852–1889), an aeronaut with experience in airship flying.

Professor E. D. Hogan started the engine to control the flight, but the eight-foot-long propeller under the airship broke off and crashed to the ground.

[1][5] On September 4, 1888 Professor Edward D Hogan made the very first parachute jump off a hot-air balloon descending Quebec, Canada from 7,000 feet.