National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-07-30
The Navigable Balloon.

~ Jul h,ou Il i"hNi'N' t''i'' ~
poraries are greatly carried away in
their expectations, Frederick Mar
LOFTS "Avitor," or navigable bal
loon, has inaugurated an era as in.
teresting as that of the appearance
Of the first steamboat. At all events
the Times says that the inventor
has secured, beyond a doubt, firm
foundation around which inventors
of all civilized nations will cast their
offerings of improvements, until the
air will be traversed by men as safe
ly as it now is by birds, and that
the problem is solved-prial navi-
CATION is no longer question of
doubt. The description given of
the machine is as follows:
''The carriage, which is merely a
large working model, is balloon,
shaped like a cigar, both ends com
ing to a point. 1t is thirty-seven
feet long, eleven feet from top to
bottom, and eight feet in width.
These are the measure ments at the
centre of the balloon, from which
point it gradually tapers Off toward
either end. Around the balloon
lengthwise, and little below the
centre, is a light frame work OF
wood and cane, strongly wired to-
gether and braced. Attached to
this frame, and standing up as they
approach the front Of the carriage
are two wings, one on either side
They are each five feet wide at :
little back of the centre of the car
riage, and do not commence to mar
row down until they approach the
front, where they come to point
These wings are made of white clotl
fastened to a light framework, which
is braccd securely by Tres. The
main frame is secured i'll place b,
means of strong ribbons, which e
over the balloon, and are attached t.
corresponding portions Of the franz
on the other side. To the frame a
the hind part of the carriage is at
tached q rudder or steering gear
which is exactly the shape of tn
paper used in pin darts, four plane
at right angles. This, when raise
or lowered, elevates or depresscs til
head of the carriage when in III,
ton and when turned from side ,
side, guides the carriage as a I'll,
der does boat. At the centre an
bottom Of the balloon is an indie
tation or space left in the matters
of which it is built, in which IL
engine and machinery are placed G
frame work. The engine and boi
or are very diminutive specimen
but they do their work handsomel
The boiler and furnace are togeth,
only little over six feet long, fol
inches wide and five or six inch
in height. Steam is generated |
spirit lamps. The cylinder is t,
inches in diameter and has thrC
inch stroke. The crank conncc
by means OF cog wheels, with tu
bling rods which lead ont to {
prOpellers on either side of the ca
riage. The propellers are each tw
bladed, four feet in diameter, al
are placed in the frame work
the wings. The boiler is made
carry eight pounds of steam.
When not inflated the carra
weighs eighty four pounds. Il
balloon has a capacity for 1900 {,
Of gas. When inflated and rca
for fight, it is calculated to la
the carriage weigh from four to
pounds"
The private trial of the bale
on July is .hus described:
"The gasometer was fully inllaI
at Clio o'clock, and the model v
tloated out of the building a
across the race track TO the ol
space in the centre. In six minu
stea:1 was got up--the ruddcr
10 give u slight curve to the cou
Of the vessel-and the valves 0p
I'd. With the first turn of the Il
pellprS she rose slowly into the .
gradually Increasing her speed
i'll the rate of five miles an Ii,
Was attained. The position of
rudder caused her Ia dcscrib,
great circle, around which she Il
sej twice, occupying about
minutes each time. Lines had IL
fastened Ia both bow and IT,
which were held by two men v
followed her track, and had 81
sicnt ado to keep up with her ,
dog trot.' AS she completed
scribing the second circle u
given to The head line, nuinteniio
ly, caused the rndder to shift
tore.and.a aft position, when the II
81 prus,ied u straight flight up
race track about 70 quarter o
mile; she WAS then turned 10
aud retraccd her flight to the y