The De Gusmão Steam Airship, also known as the Passarola, is a historical design for an airship that was created by Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão, a Portuguese inventor and priest, in the early 18th century.

The airship was designed to be powered by a steam engine, which was a groundbreaking idea at the time. De Gusmão’s design was based on the principle of lighter-than-air flight, where the airship would be lifted by the displacement of air, much like modern hot air balloons and blimps.

The Passarola was designed to have a spherical shape, with a frame made of wood and covered with silk. The steam engine was located in the center of the airship, and a series of paddles were used to create propulsion. De Gusmão believed that his airship could be used for transportation and military purposes, and he presented his design to the Portuguese court in 1709.

Although De Gusmão was not able to build a functional prototype of his airship, his design was influential in the development of lighter-than-air flight. The Passarola is considered a precursor to modern airships and has become an important part of the history of aviation.