Disclosed is a method for controlling an elongated lighter-than-air aircraft formed of a thin shell. The method includes providing a first stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a first side of a gas tank, and a second stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a second side of the gas tank, fitting control members with adjustable length through the shell of the aircraft in a gas tank space defined by the inner surface of the shell so the control members extend between the first and second stiffener, adjusting the distance between the first stiffener and the second stiffener when controlling the aircraft by means of the control members by moving the first stiffener and second stiffener in a first and a second direction opposite to each other. Further, disclosed is an aircraft.