New-York tribune., 1910-04-24

Insfrumenfs 6L;bfcb rbs
Cretvs Will Use 10 Guide
Their Lessefs.

Is imminent. the aeronauts have only 70 sue
the retaining strap and strong spiral
springs contained in the chambers expand
the walls and draw the air IN through =
valve IN the wall. A flexible tubs Leads
from this valve to the upper edge OF ths
basket 50 as not TO draw in any water.
The aeronaut cannot feel any wind BE-
cause he is moving with f. re does rot
know whether he IL rising or falling sx-
cept as his Instruments tell him rra
balloon shoots 20 a greater height than de-
sired. as II is not possible for the se-onasr
to pick I'D mors ballast 80 far from terra
frrna. he does the next best thing. He r.
verts to Iessening the buoyancy or his
balloon. This he accomplishes BY pulling
the valve cord. which hangs through the
open neck OF the gas bag and - attached
% the circular valve on the top os IN.
balloon. This valve as a rule is rads IN
the form OF two senni-circuiar barrel heads.
bound with Tubber and held IN place By
springs On pulling the rope these barrel
heads open and allow TIRE gas to sscaps
As soon as sufficient gas has escaDed the
pilot lets 40 the roDe. and the valve snaps
back into place.
There are those who believe that befors
long a new gas will be discovered that viii
naturally. be Of great advantage 10 thu
baIIoonist. Up TO the present time noth-
ing has Keen found 70 take tho place %
hydrogen. although wers il possible 70 Oh
tain heIfun in sufficient quantities ar r-a-
sonabIe figures IL would doubtless take th-
place OF hydrogen owing 10 the fact thar it
Il absolutely non-inRammable AMI non-ex-
plosivs The lifting power OF heliurn ~
III Kilograms n cubic meter Hydrogen
is slightly better, Il Kilograms a cubic
meter.
Heliun1 Is one Of the new gases rcc-rtiy
discovered in the atmosphere. and up ~
the present time only very small s1nouns
of II he's been manufactured. While this 20
exceedingly rare at the present tine. n
the light OF other rare commodities FOR
. WI fch there has beD a great demand I'm
the arts and sciences. II n not unreason-
able 20 suppose that scientists VIII discover
a way OF producing helfum commercially
on large scal3.
The average balloOrfSe viii tell yOu thsr
baIIooning is the only afe way TO travel
When cornered. he VII admit that there
are times when an element OF danger doe,
exist. Landing in a gale OF wind IS one
OF these times. The aerOnaut has 90 %
alert properly to calculate his height from
the ground. the speed at which he Is de-
scending the speed OF the forward move
roenr OF the balloon and the distance OF
the spot which he mas selected for land
ing place: also 10 take rOte OF various OD-
structions- buildings, trees. telegraph wires
and so fOrtn. An experienced pilot VIII
often have in addition 20 the regular equip
ment Of bags Of sand hanging around the
basket. an open box filed with rand, from
which he can instantly throw out ballast
/ The modern balloon is generally equipped
with a rip panel which consists OF long.
narrow piece OF material that is seved
into the side Of the balloon, which at ri,-
instant OF landing. the pilot pubs. allow
ing the gas TO escape and the balloon ini-
mediately to collapse This riD cord y.
generally cOlOred red. and the ends kept
in a small red bag attached 70 the balloon
rigging. so that il cannot be mistaken IN
the excitement Of the moment for ths
valve cord.