A Short History of Balloons and Flying Machines

Lord Montagu

• Publisher: Macha Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781528766029
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Collections
• Index: Literature

In the 21st century - the age of the budget airline - where quick and reliable air travel is available to a large segment of society, it seems hard to comprehend that it is less than 250 years since the first human took to the skies. Although the wing of the bird seemed like the most obvious natural mechanism to attempt replicate, it was actually contained hot air, as demonstrated by the Montgolfiers and their balloon, that gave birth to the era human aviation. Since the first manned balloon flight in 1783, developments have come thick and fast, the airship, the aeroplane, and finally the space shuttle. This reprint of a classic publication by Lord Montagu, from 1907, details the early history of aviation. Complete with illustrations and a brand new introduction, and containing sections such as 'Navigable Balloons', 'A Balloon Duel', and 'A Perilous Ascent', it is a wonderful work for anyone with an interest in the technology and interesting events of the lighter-than-air period of aeronautics.

CHAPTER I.

1782 to 1784.

“There’s something in a flying horse,

There’s something in a huge balloon.”

Wordsworth.

(Translation.)

AËROSTATIC MACHINES.

A SHORT EXTRACT from the Appendix to the 69th Volume of The Monthly Review by M. Fanjas de St. Fond.

THE preface to the above volume contains a short survey of what projects have formerly been suggested for the purpose of floating heavy bodies in the atmosphere; the principal which are those of Lana, a Jesuit of Brescia; and of Galieen, a Dominican of Avignon; both of which, however, were, upon well-established principles, found by theory to be impossible in the execution.

Due honour is paid to Mr. Cavallo, of London, who in 1782, seemingly with a view to this discovery, tried to fill bags of paper and bladders with inflammable air: but failed in his attempts by the unexpected permeability of paper to inflammable air, and the too great proportional weight of the common sized bladders.

The honour of the discovery is certainly due to the brothers Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier, proprietors of a considerable paper manufactory at Annonay, a town about 36 miles south of Lyons, and their invention is the more to be admired, as it is not the effect of the discovery of a permanent elastic fluid lighter than the common air, but of properties of matter long known, and in the hands of many acute philosophers of this and of the last century.

They conceived that the effect they looked for might be obtained by confining vapours lighter than common air in an inverted bag, sufficiently compact to prevent their evaporation, and so light that when inflated its own weight, added to that of the enclosed vapour, might fall somewhat short of the weight of the air which its bulk displaces.

On these principles they prepared matters for an experiment: they formed a bag, or balloon, of linen cloth lined with paper, nearly spherical, about 35 ft. in diameter; its solid contents were about 22,000 cubic feet, a space nearly equal to that occupied by 1,980 lbs. of common air; of a mean temperature, on the level of the sea, the vapour was about half as light as common air, weighing 990 lbs. The balloon, together with a wooden frame suspended to the bottom which was to serve as ballast, weighed 490 lbs., whence it appears that the whole must have been about 500 lbs. lighter than an equal bulk of common air. This difference of specific gravity by which these bodies are made to rise is called “their power of ascension.”

The 5th of June 1783 was fixed for this singular experiment, the States of Vivarais, who were then assembled at Annonay, were invited to the exhibition.

The flaccid bag was suspended on a pole 33 ft. high, and straw and chopped wool were burnt under the opening at the bottom: the vapour soon inflated the bag, and on a sudden this immense mass ascended into the air with such velocity that in less than ten minutes it appeared to be about 1,000 toises above the heads of the spectators, then the vapour escaping through some loopholes the great globe gradually descended with little damage to it.

II.—The Parisian philosophers resolved to use, instead of vapour, inflammable air. This being expensive, the author of the book now quoted set on foot a subscription and raised a sum sufficient to set to work, and they constructed a globe of taffetas glazed over with elastic gum, this was filled with inflammable air, produced from 1,000 lbs. of iron filings and 498 lbs. of vitriolic acid.

On the 29th of August 1783 the balloon was conveyed by night to the Champ de Mars Troops were drawn up to prevent disburbance, the concourse of people being immense; the cords were cut, and in less than two minutes the balloon rose to a height of near 500 toises; it was then lost among the clouds; and in three-quarters of an hour fell in a field near Gonesse.

III.—M. Montgolfier, Junior, constructed a balloon of an elliptical form 70 ft. high and 40 ft. diameter, and on the 12th September 1783 it was filled with smoke, loaded to a weight of 500 lbs., and ascended fastened to ropes in the presence of the Deputies of the Royal Academy, but being a wet day it was not set loose.

Two days previous, on the 10th September, in the presence of the King, Queen, and Court, and all those who could get to Versailles, a balloon 57 ft. high and 41 ft. in diameter was sent up, the cage contained a sheep, a cock, and a duck: it remained in the air 20 minutes and fell in the wood of Vaucresson, the animals uninjured.

IV.—M. Montgolfier made a new balloon in a garden in the Faubourg St. Antoine 70 ft. high and 46 ins. diameter.

A gallery of wicker-work was around the aperture at the bottom, under which an open grate or brazier was suspended so that the fire might be fed to keep up the vapour.

On the 15th October M. Pilatre de Rozier, the most intrepid philosopher of the age, placed himself in the gallery, ascended 80 feet from the ground and there kept the balloon afloat by throwing straw and wool upon the fire.

On the 19th October he ascended a second time, about 250 feet, the balloon was then hauled down, and M. Giron de Villette placed himself in the gallery opposite M. de Rozier, and they were let up, and for some time hovered over Paris, in the sight of all its inhabitants at the height of 324 feet.

The following is part copy of a translation of a copy of a certificate dated at the Château de la Muettle near Paris:—

“21 November 1783.

“To-day, at the King’s Palace, an experiment has been made of the aërostatique machine of M. Montgolfier.

“The Marquis D’Arlandes and M. Pilatre de Rozier were placed in the gallery; the machine rose in a majestic manner to a height of above 250 feet, and was soon out of sight; then it appeared at a height of 3,000 feet, crossed the Seine, and was visible all over Paris.

“They descended in an easy manner opposite the mill of Croulebarbe, without having experienced the least inconveniency, having still left in their gallery about two-thirds of their provisional stores; they might, therefore, if they had chosen, have gone over a space of treble the extent; their time was 25 minutes.

“The machine was 70 feet in height, 46 in diameter, and bore up a weight of 1,700 lbs.

“Signed by the Duc de Polignac, Due de Guines, and others.”

On the 1st December 1783 Messrs. Charles and Robert ascended in a globe 5 ft. 8 ins. in diameter.

M. Montgolfier cut the string; they carried with them a barometer, blankets and furs.

After nearly three-quarters of an hour they descended on the plains of Nesle, held a conversation with the Duc de Chartres, the Duke Fitz-James, Mr. Farrer, an English gentleman, and others. They then made a second ascent, and remained up 35 minutes, descending at about a league from the place where they set out.

FIRST LADY ASCENT.

On the 28th June 1784 an ascent was made at Lyon before the King of Sweden, then travelling as Count Haga.

Madame Thiblé accompanied the aëronaut, and she was the first lady who ever went up into the clouds.

On the 15th September 1784 an Italian named Lunardi made the first ascent in Britain, in a balloon from the Artillery Grounds, Moor-fields, in the city of London.

It was intended that another gentleman should accompany him, but it was found that this would be too great a weight, so a smaller gallery was substituted; then Lunardi found that an accident had happened which would prevent the ascent; but the mob were hostile, and he, according to his own account, “almost deprived of his senses,” and finding the injury trifling, was so alarmed that he forgot to take his instruments for observation with him.

“I threw myself into the gallery,” said he, “determined to hazard no further accidents that might consign me and the balloon to the fury of the populace, which I saw on the point of bursting.” The ropes were cut, and the balloon slowly and majestically arose.

After a voyage of a little over two hours, M. Lunardi landed in a field in Hertfordshire, among a crowd of rustics, who at first refused to give assistance to one who came on what they called “the Devil’s horse.”

A country gentleman erected a stone on the spot where Lunardi alighted, and it bore this inscription:—

“Let posterity know, and knowing, be astonished, that on the 15th day of September 1784, Vincent Lunardi, of Lucca, in Tuscany, the first aërial traveller in Britain, mounting from the Artillery Ground in London, and traversing the regions of the air for two hours and fifteen minutes, on this spot revisited the earth.

“On this rude monument for ages be recorded that wonderous enterprise, successfully achieved by the powers of chemistry and the fortitude of man: that improvement in science which the Great Author of all knowledge, patronising by His Providence the inventions of mankind, hath graciously permitted, to their benefit and His own Eternal glory.”

19th September 1784.

ROYALTY

made its first ascent in the person of the Duke of Chartres.

When 6,000 feet high the Duke began to be alarmed at a proximity to heaven which he had never calculated upon reaching, and absolutely pierced the lower part of the silk bag with his sword in order to get down the quicker.

This voyage was in the clouds—and thunderclouds too—for five hours, and they travelled 135 miles.

CHAPTER II.

1785 to 1786.

“What divine monsters, O ye gods, are these

That float in air and fly upon the seas.”

Dryden.

DOVER TO CALAIS.

January 7th, 1785.

The wind being N.N.W., Mr. Blanchard accompanied by Dr. Jefferies, took his departure for the Continent in his balloon, from the Castle at Dover, at 13 minutes past 1 from the large gun, known by the name of Queen Anne’s pocket pistol. This being the sixth voyage performed by Mr. Blanchard in this balloon.

He took with him letters from the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Devonshire and others to the principal personages of the French Court.

After an exciting time they entered France at 3 o’clock, descending in the Forest De Felmores, and arrived at Calais between 1 and 2 in the morning.

They expended all their ballast, the anchors, their coats and trousers, &c.

January 20th, 1785. Dublin.

About 40,000 persons collected at Ranelagh to see Mr. Crosbie ascend in his balloon, the cord was cut, he mounted awfully majestic, and in three minutes and a half an envious cloud secluded him from mortal sight, and all was solemn silence; in about twelve minutes he appeared descending at the northward, where he was carried in procession to the Earl Charlemont’s.

The ballo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• The Early History of Flight
• Flying Machines.
• Chapter I. 1782 to 1784.
• Chapter II. 1785 to 1786.
• Chapter III. 1802 to 1811.
• Chapter IV. 1811 to 1817.
• Chapter V. 1819 to 1836.
• Chapter VI. 1850 to 1858.
• Chapter VII. 1862 to 1870.
• Chapter VIII. 1871 to 1885.
• Chapter IX. 1885 to 1901.
• Chapter X. Aëronautics in the Twentieth Century.
• Aërial Poems
• “The Car” Publications.