escape at will, a long drag rope facilitates landing by relieving the balloon of its weight as it reaches the ground, and a ripping strip which is torn out on landing lets out all the gas, when the balloon at once collapses and dragging is prevented.
Among the most remarkable voyages on record are the following:
June 5, 1783. The Montgolfier brothers completed and launched the first balloon ever constructed. It was about 30 feet in diameter and was filled with hot air. It remained above the ground for about ten minutes, and during this time traveled about a mile and a half. No observer ascended with the balloon. The invention of the balloon is, therefore, generally assigned to these brothers, Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier, who were paper-makers at Annonay, in Southern France, where this first ascent was made.
Oct. 15, 1783. M. François Pitâtre de Rozier ascended in a balloon, which, for the first time, carried with it a human being. This balloon was attached to the ground by ropes; but in the month following this same navigator made a trip in a free balloon.
June 21, 1859. Mr. John Wise and two companions traveled from St. Louis, Mo., to Jefferson county, New York, a distance of 1,150 miles, in 19 hours, thus accomplishing an average speed of over 60 miles an hour.
Sept. 5, 1862. Mr. James Glaisher, in England, made the highest ascent on record, reaching an altitude of 37,000 feet (seven miles). At a height of five miles Mr. Glaisher became insensible, and his companion, Mr. Coxwell, having lost the use of his limbs, was barely able to open a valve with his teeth and thus allow the balloon to descend. An extended account of this daring trip is given by Mr. Glaisher in the British Association Report for 1862.
July 11, 1897. Andrée and two companions started from Danes Island, hoping to reach the North Pole, a distance of some 600 miles. Two days later (July 13) a carrier pigeon returned with a short message of “all well,” from Lat. 82° N. Long. 15° E. From then until the present (1908) no trace of either men or balloon has been discovered.
Oct. 9, 1900. Count de la Vaulx and a companion traveled from Paris to Russia, 1,200 miles, in 35¾ hours, making the longest continuous voyage in air up to that date.
In recent years ballooning has come to be a popular sport. Aero clubs have been formed in Europe and America, and ascensions and balloon races are common. It is claimed by enthusiasts that under a skillful pilot, who will observe weather conditions as does a good sailor, ballooning is less dangerous than automobiling, while it is less expensive and far more interesting.
James Gordon Bennett in 1906 gave a cup to be contested for by balloons or other air craft. The first race was held at Paris, Sept. 30, 1906, 16 balloons, representing America, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, contesting. The cup was won by the balloon “United States,” piloted by Lieut. F. P. Lahm of the United States Army, which landed near Scarborough, England, after covering a distance of 415 miles.
The second race was held at St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 21, 1907. There were nine entries, representing America, England, Germany and France. The race was won by the German balloon, Pommern, piloted by Dr. Oscar Erbsloch, which landed at Asbury Park, N. J., 876¾ miles from St. Louis.
DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS
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DIRIGIBLE BALLOON |
M. Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian working in Paris, produced a large balloon successfully equipped with a powerful oil engine, a propellor and a rudder. By means of shifting the ballast the engine is made to drive the balloon either up or down, as well as straight ahead. This hybrid apparatus, which is known as a “dirigible,” belongs essentially to the class of balloons, and is not a true flying machine. In the summer and autumn of 1901 Santos-Dumont repeatedly encircled the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Since that date distinct progress has been made in dirigible airships of the general type of that of Santos-Dumont. The problems of producing sufficiently light and powerful motors and of securing speed, endurance and control have been so far achieved as to give to the “dirigible” a practical value which has secured for it a place in the military establishments of the leading Powers. It has been adopted by France, England and Germany, and its use is contemplated by the United States government. The French government owns four dirigible airships, all of what is known as the Lebaudy type. They are built with a gas bag about 200 feet long and 30 feet in diameter. The under side is lined with a rigid plate, which takes the place of the suspended framework of other types of airships. To the bottom piece is suspended the car, with a propeller in either side. The gas bag has
