A NOVEL BALLOON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3495, 19 September 1882, Page 4

A NOVEL BALLOON.

A new steerable balloou, the invention of Herr Baumgarten and Dr. Wselfert, was recently tried at Charlotenburg, in Germany. It is a hugh size, having a capacity of about 473 cubic yard 3, and is ellipsoid in form, the loDgor diameter about 58ft. It differs in principle from all other cerestats in that although inflated with hydrogen, it has no ascensional force ; its total weight is about 2 - l-51b. above that of the air is displaces. The means of dispcement in the horizontal oa vertical direction are a helical system of vanes actuated by machinery in the car. Hence in making land the balloon does not requh'e to be partially emptied, and on reaching the ground it has nearly the same quantity or gas as when it rose. Another novelty consists in the mode of connection of the car. This is rigid. Thus the dangerous bounds of or jerks to which the ordinary balloon-car is liable in landing are to some extent avoided. The car being usually suspended by ropes, the system is suddenly relieved of its weight when it touches the ground, so that the balloon shoots up again, giving a series of violent shocks. With a rigid connection the total weight cannot thus be temporarily diminished. The mechanism has a double action, one helix of vanes or screw propellers, driven in one direction or the opposite produces ascent or descent, while a couple of screws give horizontal pi'opulsion ; in a pretty calm atmosphere the horizontal direction may be modified by working one of the couple alone. The first experiments, it appears, were quite successful. The weather was exceptionally calm. In a second trial a slight accident ruptured the envelope of the balloon, and the car mechanism was also injured. The experiments are soon to be resumed. The motor, it may be mentioned, has a fourhorse power and weighs 801bs. The cost of charging, time the balloan ia filled anew is about £20.