New-York tribune., 1922-06-11
By c. d. Wagner
General Electric Company

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Radio In free bsllooning was used
for the FIRST time In the national balloon
race which started from Milwaukee
May 81. The test proved highly success
ful and materially aided Major Oscar
Wes,over % win, according 70 word
received from him few hours after
he landed 200 miles north Of Quebec
az Lake st. Jean. His distance vas $50
miles from the starting point. or more
than 300 miles greater than that COW
cred by any Of the other eleven con
tcstnnts.
Experiments made in a hotel room
al Milwaukee previous 70 the race and
after tho apparatus had been instal led
in the balloon proved the PRACTICABLE
ity OF using radio In a balloon. Hay
ing no precedent 20 80 by, tests mad"
in providing ground for the radio
set we're interesting. Two plans were
suggested One vas 90 use wire of
equal length Of the antcnna. dropped
from the opposite side ~ ihe basket-
The other was 90 line the BASKET
with conner mesh wire. The latter
nrovod entirely successful In tests and
was adopted In Major Westoyer's bal
loon
For the test ffteen fee, of copper
wire mesh similar % that used Tor hy
screening was used. The ends we're
soldered together, making 1908. ~
sufficient size % line the balloon oasket.
This was stretched about chairs ana
thus insulated from the floor of q room
on the seventh Aoor of Milwaukee
hotel One hundred ard twenty-five
feet OF aerial was dropped from the
hotel window, which gave conditions
about the same as when the outht
would be installed in the balloon. Musi-
cal programs were picked up md sew
eral code stations were heard, when
proved 10 workable.
Tests Prove Satisfactory
The next move vas 70 the ba loon
nark. After fhe wire had been placed
In tho basket. and thousand pounds
or 80 ~ Ne. sand ballast piled N
alongside il. another test was maos
and a~ain signals we're received. 10
With this copper screening lined in
side tho basket for the counterpoise
or ground and l25 feet Of aircraft
aerial wound up in readiness % drop
from tho side OF the basket, the out
III was ready.
A standard two stage receiving set,
with ordinary headphones. was used.
Major Wcstovcr thoroughly acquainted
himself with the use n the apparatus
ia the hotel and understood how 20
adjust tho knobs. 20 pick up the var
Gus broadcasting stations "nicn .
promised % send special weather re- f
ports az noon and midnight each day .
until he came down.
Major Wostovcr has not yet made .
complete report on tho use ~ ne set
but In his telegram from Lake s..
Jean. sent the day he landed. he said
Tested set satisfactorily For code
message n proved excellent VIII
write when return 20 The States.
His report. which will probably 70
lato the use n the set ~ high attitudes
and under other peculiar conditions, Is
awaited by radio engineers.
Designed for Upson's Balloon
First plans had been made 20 use
his radio set in Ralph Upson's bal
oon. For month or more UDson had
luietly discussed the possibilities Of
installing radio outfit and having
.nccial weather reports broadcasted
lin while in the air. Until two days
,efore the start Of the race. none OF
he other contestants knew Of his plan.
" are believed 10 have thought Of
ising radio. Yet after having made
NJ these arrangements. he sacrificed
he radio outfit 20 Major Westover, be-
ause the officer offered him an extra
,as bag tho army had on the field 20
ise m case 81 emergencv
This may have caused Epson % lose
he race. Although ranking as De
oremost civilian balloonist in the
world. Upson in this race dropped about
100 miles from the starting point ard
lid not even qualify as an entry in the
International race 20 be held in Swift
orland. q reward coveted FAR above
he money prize Of the national race.
Upson was offered both 4 sending
md receiving set but because Of weight
cceptcd only the receiving set.