Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-20
Picard Advises Poruchutist
On Police Field Day Jump
Rudy Hard, D. c.
Fireman, Taught
u. S. Soldiers
By JOHN J. DAILY.

Dr.. Jean Picard, world authority
on stratosphere ballooning, will di-
rect by remote control balloon
flight and parachute Jump arranged
for the police and firemen's field
day at Griffith Stadium September
IA. The chute jumper will be Rudy
Hard, former star with flying cir
cuses and now member of Engine
Company No. 10 at 94c G street S.W
Although Rudy Hard has figured
In parachute jumps since 1881, when
he took his first tumble earthward
from q height of 1000 feet, he has
never performed the stunt in the
Piccardian manner. by going up at
tached to a cluster of small bal
looms. Before. he has gone up in
an airplane and come down in a
chute. This time he will ascend
with a cluster of a small rubber
balloons, each one feet in diameter
with carrying strength of 7
pounds. The balloons will be filled
with ordinary Illuminating gas.
As a scientist. DR.. Picard would
rather have Hard use hydrogen,
but the man who intends to make
the Jump claims the Illuminating
gas Is cheaper and quicker for in
flating the balloons.
Advised on Rigging.
Hard yesterday received letter
from Dr. Picard, who Is now
professor of aeronautical engineering
at the University of Minnesota, CIV
ing advice on rigging the balloons:
1.-THE strings should all be OF
equal length-50 feet each. The
type of string used, the type of
knots tied. the treatment of strings
previous to use the prevention OF
rotation are all important details"
To a question on whether friction
from the strings might cause fire
hazard, DR.. Picard points out in
his letter, The fire danger is not so
great as one usually supposes. I am
not and never have been afraid OF
sparks between the balloons.
"They are of the same material
each and friction produces sparks
only II the materials are different,
for instance if one were using so
rubber balloons and so silk balloons.
Even with Illuminating gas, Hard
intends to be below the balloons and
he hopes to make his getaway when
the cluster has reached a height
somewhere between 1000 and 10000
feet-depending on weather condi-
lions at the time. As the law re-
quires that he must not land in
congested district. he must pick a
spot over some such place as the
Soldiers Home or the Monument
Grounds, or perhaps out in the
country.
Earned His Tuition.
"Its a case of not knowing where
you're going, once you're on your
way" Hard said today. But that's
an old story with him. At 80, he's
been at this business of parachute
jumping ever since he was student
in the School of Agriculture at the
University of Minnesota. Then, be-
cause it became necessary for him to
work his way through college, he
took a flying leap from the air-to
pay expenses. After that first Jump
it seemed such an easy way to make
a living that he kept 1t up.
Then he Joined the Army and
went into the Air Corps as para
chute rigger, but in two enlistments,
covering some six years, he never
made a jump for Uncle Sam.
Despite the fact that he was in
structor of parachute jumping at
the Parachute School, Wheeler Field
Hawaii, with the 18th Pursuit
Group, Hard never had the oppor-
tunity to practice what he taught.
On week ends, however, he always
managed to give an exhibition
someWhere-under private auspices.
He had the same experience when
he was stationed at March Field,
Calf, and at Boiling Field here.
However, it may not be long be-
fore Hard is back in the Army as
an instructor in parachute jumping,
for when he went to get his permit
from the Civil Aeronautics Board
permission to make this flight-the
authorities were impressed with his