Airopaidia : $b Containing the narrative of a balloon excursion from Chester, the eighth of September, 1785, taken from minutes made during the voyage; hints on the improvement of balloons ... To which is subjoined, mensuration of heights by the barometer, made plain; with extensive tables. The whole serving as an introduction to aërial navigation.Baldwin, Thomas
History
Airopaidia : $b Containing the narrative of a balloon excursion from Chester, the eighth of September, 1785, taken from minutes made during the voyage; hints on the improvement of balloons ... To which is subjoined, mensuration of heights by the barometer, made plain; with extensive tables. The whole serving as an introduction to aërial navigation.
Baldwin, Thomas
Aeronautics -- Early works to 1900; Balloons -- Early works to 1800
Suppose, for Instance, that, instead of the half Mile Flag, which
evidently checked the progressive Motion of the Balloon (Section 70) a
larger square Surface, of varnished Silk, or a triangular Latteen Sail
(like the Αρτεμων of Le Roi[106]) was substituted, and kept stretched,
by a hollow Cane, or Yard.[107]
315. 4. Also, that by Means of a Fan or small Oar, acting as a Rudder,
to be folded and taken back into the Car at Pleasure, the Balloon was
compelled to move with a given Side foremost; that the Sail was let
down below the Car, by strong silken Cords fastened to each Angle;
and lastly, that leaden Weights, (each weighing an Ounce Averdupoise
when widely perforated, and put throu’ the Ends of each Cord before
it is fastened to the Car), be let down to each Angle; occasionally
encreasing the Weights (or Sail) in Proportion to the Wind; which
relative Weights (or Sail) will best be determined by repeated
Experiments; will not such an Apparatus or Anemometer-Sail, acting as a
Vis Inertiæ nearly at right Angles against the Force of the Wind, check
the Balloon; till the encreasing Resistence raising the Sail upwards
towards the Horizon diminishes its Power of Action? With this Sail
therefore, which requires little Attention; and with the Assistance of
Wings moved by Levers, pressed alternately downwards as the Bellows
of an Organ, by the Feet of the Aironaut and mere Weight of his Body,
standing upright near the Center of the Car; the Balloon may probably
be, in some Respect, subject to Direction, and move obliquely against
the Wind, or with Force in a Calm.
The Balloon and Anemòmeter-Sail, like the Earth and Moon will turn on
their common Center of Gravity.
315. 5. It is possible to erect a light hollow Mast throu’ the Car, and
throu’ the Balloon, by Means of a cylindrical Tube of varnished Silk,
extending from Top to Bottom, in order to sustain the Balloon in an
upright Situation, and make it keep Pace with the Car, when the latter
is propelled by the Wings. The Mast shoud be covered with soft Cotton,
to lessen the Roughness of the Friction. It may also contain within it,
another slenderer hollow Mast, after the Manner of a Cane Fish-Rod;
either to be lowered out, and placed horizontally across or below the
Car, to serve as a Guard for the Bottom of the Anemòmeter-Sail; or to
be let down to any Depth occasionally: and other Sails connected, by
the usual wooden Rings, and kept tight by Cords running throu’ Blocks
fastened to any Part of _the equatorial Hoop_, as used at first, by
the _gallant Admiral of the Air_ +blanchard+, and afterwards too
precipitately rejected; since, in Case of a Rupture of Gass throu’
the upper Hemisphere of the Balloon; the equatorial Hoop preserves
the Parashute complete: and for Want of which Hoop, young Arnold had
certainly lost his Life, if the Water of the Thames had not broke his
Fall.
During the Descent of the Balloon, the Sails are to be taken in, and
the lower Mast projected into its Socket.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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