The 1911 Herdler Hochdecker high-wing eindecker designed by Carl Herdler, had an “Absturzsicherung auf dem Flügel (ein sammengefalteter Luftsack) der bei Gefahr gespreizt werden konnte” – a security device, where the idea was to blow up the bag with air, to remain longer in the air whereas to lessen the force of impact in the event of a crash on the ground. The “air bag” may have also been somewhat based on the parachute.
The machine made short hops in 1911.
All Aero 