Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-30
FIRST MILITARY
BALLOON FLIGHT
INSTATE SUCCESS
OBSERVATIONS MADE FROM
CHUTES TO D0WNEY
cUARpsMEN PLOTTED BY HERALD
AERoNAuTIc EDITOR
Generosity of Dick Ferris In Leaning
Big Gas Bag Made Ascent
In Los Angeles
Possible
BY GEORGE b. HARRISON,

BY GEORGE b. HARRISON,
Pilot of the Signal Corps Balloon and Aero
nautical Editor of Los Angeles Herald
VT ESTERDAYS balloon trip, which
opened the winter ballooning sea-
Il son in Los Angeles, demonstrated
by actual tryout a number Of phases
of military aeronautics which had been
previously worked out in theory to the
satisfaction of Captain Slotterbeck.
1t stands as the first military ascen-
sion in America to be handled by an
aeronautical squad working In con-
junction with a signaling squad be-
low and is the first balloon voyage by
members Of the national guard Of any
state.
1t was planned by Captain Slotter-
beck primarily as a demonstration OF
interest to members of the National
Guard association of the United States,
bat was also part of the regulation
work of the aeronautical squad.
The balloon was manned by Corporal
Vance Worden, First Glass Private w.
A Hall and the writer, and left the
Chutes balloon grounds yesterday
morning at 9:33 o'clock. Members Of
company A, signal corps, filed the bal
loon, but as their regular work neces-
sarily made their watches shorthand
ed they were assisted by two of the
Cbutes park balloonists, Russell >.
Mitchell and Charles G. Colby Like
all other work of the national guard TO
assure preparedness in time of war.
that of the aeronauticai squad was
stolen from regular work time at con-
siderable sacrifice. Captain Slotter-
beck and First Glass Privates Hickman
of the signal corps and Gurney of the
hospital corps spent nearly night and
q day on duty to make the ascension
success.
Gives Special Pressure
At 9 o'clock yesterday morning the
balloon was ready for the trip. An
imitation in the heart of the congested
district with small pipes and a heavy
demand for gas takes eighteen hours
for a racing balloon like that loaned to
the signal corps by Dick Ferris. 1t has
a capacity of 2200 cubic meters, but
with proper facilities on a high pres
sure main the gas company could fill
1t in two hours. When it was seen that
there might be a delay in filling Champ
Vance, manager of the gas corporation,
ordered a new meter put in and spe-
cial pressure to facilitate operations.
After the basket had been attached
and the ballast sacks shifted toward
the concentrating ring to let the en-
velope up the necessary equipment was
placed in the basket and the sacks of
ballast changed to the side of the bas-
ket Sand, carefully screened to take
out all stones and pebbles which might
prove dangerous from a range OF few
thousand feet, was utilized as the bal
last in directing the course of the bal
loon.
At exactly the right time a small
handful of this will have an effect on
the balancing of the balloon when from
nnpda11zaffor, oT. lea 1xa of. Of zgas a TEN |
dency to drop is shown.
"Weigh Off," Command Given
When Captain slotterbeck gave the
word to weigh off" enough sand was
taken from the basket to cause the gas |
TO lift the balloon and it's passengers |
upward. A balloon pilot decides to get
away eight or heavy" according to
the situation Of his starting place and
the currents he has to deal with. AT
the Chutes balloon grounds on nor
NAL day it is advisable TO send the
balloon above the first stratum of air,
at the time we left yesterday morning.
in order to catch the easterly drift. We
knew that above 1000 feet we should
catch a current taking us toward Yer
non, first drifting a little to the west,
and that was what happened.
Data regarding the Air currents
above Los Angeles in the possession OF
possible to predict the course Of the
balloon when handled at the attitudes
in which it was placed with accuracy.
This information and considerable more
already gathered by the aeronautical
SQUAD is being put into regulation
shape and utilized for the making of
an aerial map of all the section be-
tween the ocean and the mountain
ranges from Point Dune and down to
Newport.
Signal Man Busy
To Corporal Worden had been as
signed the releasing of the carrier
pigeons and other methods of commu-
nication from the balloon, especially the
signaling designed to test the prac-
ficability Of the conventionals with the
Meyer code TO convey to Captain Slot
terbeck on the ground the movements
of the balloon and the observations
taken.
Corporal H. B. Logan received the
signals below and had no trouble in
taking q message indicating that the
balloon would be sent to a higher alti-
fude to obtain an eastward course; this
was sent from a height Of 3700 feet.
A carrier pigeon relased at $500 feet
quickly brought down a message to
Fred Pepa at the Chutes, who relayed
It, and two others released at a higher
altitude over the Vernon ball grounds
soon found their way to the loft.
No attempt was made at heliograph-
ing, but First Lieutenant Bathey Of
company A is working out device
which he believes will be successful in
heliographing to a certain extent from
a balloon, and which will be tested on
a future trip,
The third member of the balloon
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