The History of the Hot Air Balloon
The Aeronautical activity comprises two parts:
- Aviation (planes)
- Ballooning (hot air balloons)
What is Aerostation?
It is the technique that allows flight within the Earth's atmosphere using vehicles that are lighter than air. The history of aerostation truly begins
at the end of the 18th Century, first with balloons inflated with hot air,
then hydrogen. It led to the development of airships which,
a time, will compete with air transport, by plane.
The invention of the Hot Air Balloon was designed and built by:
- Joseph & Etienne Montgolfier.
You can now guess why "this dream machine" is called La Montgolfière.
But how could they have had this idea, of a balloon making it possible to take
height?
Joseph Montgolfier is one of the enthusiasts for the new inventions of their time. With his younger brother Etienne, they had a dream in common, to be able to fly and be free as a bird.
They did not know yet that they were going to be the precursors of such a beautiful invention.
In November 1782:
Joseph decides to dry his shirt in his fireplace.
However, it takes a sudden altitude thanks to the hot air...
It was therefore in 1782 that Joseph and Etienne decided to give life to their idea, by a second investigation of a "cube" of silk Taffeta of one cubic meter.
and the story continues
December 14, 1782
A sphere of 3m cubes arrives
to fly away.
So they decide to make a bigger balloon, a dozen
meters in diameter.
June 5, 1783
It is with the same sphere if they make a demonstration to the particular states of the Vivarais. It would have risen that day to 1000 meters and landed 10 minutes after take-off at 2 kilometers.
September 19, 1783 -Versailles
But who are the first passengers on a balloon flight?
A sheep, a duck and a rooster.
they were locked in a basket
wicker basket hung by a rope
to the ball. Announced by a knock
of Canon, that was the top for their first flight, in captivity.
Photo during the 2017 European Championship
November 21, 1783
Two men take to the skies aboard the "Réveillon", built by Etienne Montgolfier:
- Physicist Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier
- Francois-Laurent Marquis of Arlandes
flew over Paris.
Take off in front of the Dauphin at the Château de la Muette.
The Montgolfier family is ennobled
several years later.
January 19, 1784
It is around Joseph Montgolfier to fly in a huge balloon 42m high and 34m in diameter,
"The Flesselles". After a laborious takeoff, the machine rose above Lyon, under the eyes of nearly 100,000 amazed people.
June 15, 1785
After being the first man to fly,
physicist Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier
is unfortunately the first victim
hot air balloon flight; during his attempt
to cross the Channel.
His death highlights the dangers
hot air balloons.
Until the second half of the 20th century, gas balloons were preferred, as they had greater autonomy.
1864
The Godard aeronaut family
build a huge hot air balloon
of 14,000 cubic meters
1970
The hot air balloon is beginning to become a communication and advertising medium, developing thanks to sponsorship.
Hot air balloons today
The Valve:
She is the top of the envelope, which is open. It is sealed from the inside by a removable circular panel, called, "parachute". The latter, under the pressure of the hot air, flattens under
the edge of the top of the envelope, thus ensuring its tightness. It can thus serve
of "valve". Guided by ropes operated by a cable, this valve can be opened
by the pilot to evacuate the hot air, and therefore to bring it down quickly.
It closes as soon as the pilot stops pulling on the cable.
The File Ô Vent valve is characterized by the smiley.
The envelope:
Its role is to imprison
the air heated by the burner.
Its structure consists of
horizontal and vertical straps
which form a globe. Above,
are sewn nylon panels,
material chosen for its lightness
and its resistance. The envelope is protected
at its base by a flammable fabric skirt.
Vertical straps are attached at the top
to a steel ring called "crown".
They are taken up at the base by steel cables
which are fixed on the "load frame".
The envelope has a lifespan of 400 hours
average flight.
The Burner:
It delivers a precisely directed flame
3 to 6 meters high, going inside
of the envelope by the open lower part
(the "mouth") Placed on the load frame, the burner
is orientable. A flexible pipe connects it to reservoirs
aluminum or steel cylinders, each of which contains
20 to 35 kg of liquid propane. Opening the valves releases
propane, which circulates in a coil and under the effect
heat, distributes it to the nozzles, from where it diffuses
to mix with ambient air and ignite
in contact with a pilot light.
Platform :
Built in wicker or rattan, the carrycot is both
robust and flexible. These natural materials have the property
form in the event of an impact while providing a rigid structure.
Its base, in wicker or plywood, is covered with skin
of buffalo, very hard, which protects the nacelle on landing.
At the four corners are fixed liquid propane tanks
and on the sides, the on-board instruments.
Rigid hoops support the load frame,
connected to steel cables which ensure the suspension of the nacelle.
Did you know ?
A hot air balloon,
it's a bit like
a car.
She has to pass a test
technical but every year.
Hot air ballooning, a sport
About twenty events are on the menu for hot-air balloon pilots,
We invite you to discover 5 of them.
Goal declared by the pilot: each competitor seeks to score near
of a goal he chooses that he declares before the flight. The result is the distance
from the mark to the nearest target. The shortest distance,
including distance penalties, is the best.
3D test : Competitors will have to cover the greatest distance
within a specific space. The result is the cumulative horizontal distance between valid path points in the determined space(s).
The greater distance is the better.
Waltz - Hesitation: Competitors seek to score near one of the various established goals. The result is the distance from the mark to the nearest target , if deployed, or to the nearest goal. The shortest distance, including distance penalties,
is the best.
Triangular: Competitors seek to build a triangle of the largest possible area between three points "A" "B" and "C".
The result is the area of triangle ABC. Largest area, including penalties
in distance, is the best.
The good choice : each competitor seeks to score near a goal which he chooses and declares during the flight. the result is the distance from the mark to the nearest declared valid goal. The shorter distance, including distance penalties, is the best.
X/Y
X/Y