Construction of a Balloon

The gores are sewn together, and a small portion of the upper end of each is cut away, so as to leave an aperture at the top of the balloon of from 1 to 3 feet in diameter. This space is occupied by the valve, which is generally made of strong wood, and consists of two semicircular shutters hinged to a diameter of the circular frame, and kept closed by a spring.

The valve is opened by pulling a string, technically called the valve-line, which passes down through the balloon and out of the lower orifice in which the neck terminates.

The network which, like the gores, is attached to the circumstances of the valve, passes over the surface of the balloon, and supports the ring or hoop from which the car is suspended by half a dozen strong ropes, of perhaps 4 or 5 feet in length. The network is thus stretched between the valve and the ring.

It is very important that all the ropes by which the car hangs from the ring should be so adjusted that each may bear pretty nearly the same weight, as otherwise the whole netting and balloon will be strained, and perhaps to a serious extent.

The car is usually merely a large basket made of wicker-work. The neck of the balloon should be 7 or 8 feet above the car, so that the aeronaut can easily reach it by mounting into the ring.

The best material for the envelope is silk; but on account of the expense cotton or alpaca is generally used: in all cases it must be varnished, in order to render it more impervious to the gas.

The grapnel or anchor is a large five-pronged hook attached to the ring by a rope 100 or 120 feet long. The first care of the aeronaut on leaving the earth is to lower the grapnel gently to the full extent that the rope will permit. Thus, when the balloon is in the air, the grapnel hangs down below it and when the descent is being effected is the first thing to touch the ground. If the descent is well managed, and the balloon is moving downwards slowly, the weight of which it is relieved when the grapnel is supported by the earth checks any further descent, and the wind carries the balloon along horizontally, the grapnel trailing over the ground until it catches in some obstruction and is held fast.

The balloon is then in much about the same position as a kite held by a string, and if the wind be strong, plunges about wildly, striking the ground and rebounding, until the aeronaut, by continued use of the valve-line, has allowed sufficient gas to escape to deprive it of all buoyancy and prevent its rising again.





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