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Airopaidia

Chapter 18: PREPARATIONS FOR ASCENT.
By Thomas Baldwin
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About This Book

The work presents a first-person account of an 18th-century balloon voyage launched from a regional town, pairing vivid descriptions of aerial scenes with practical instruction. The narrative records observations made during ascent and flight and is accompanied by engraved views; it also offers proposals for balloon design and a method of inflation by steam, precautions against descent over water, and inquiries into atmospheric conditions affecting direction. A clear, practical explanation of measuring height with the barometer is included, together with extensive tables. The material functions as an introduction to aërostatic navigation that mixes travel narrative, natural-philosophical observation, and engineering advice.

CHAPTER  IV.

PREPARATIONS FOR ASCENT.

Preparations for Ascent.

Section 22. BEFORE half past I, Mr. Lunardi had inflated his Balloon in the finest Manner; and having, with the most obliging and spirited Attention, made such Preparations, and taken such Precautions, as he thought were necessary to ensure the Success of the Expedition; sent to inform Mr. Baldwin (who continued purposely absent, that he might not disturb or precipitate the Process; but that every Circumstance shoud be conducted with Deliberation and without Hurry) that all Things were ready for his Departure.

The Public reminded of the Necessity of preserving order during the Inflation of Balloons.

23. And Mr. Baldwin takes this Opportunity of returning his best Thanks to his Friends and the Public, on the Day of Ascent, for keeping the small Circle clear, by strictly adhering to the Words of the Advertisement, which declared, “that in order to prevent an interruption of the Process in the Inflation of the Balloon, no Persons were to be admitted within the circle, except those Gentlemen who politely undertook in turn to hold the Lines which detained the Balloon.”

Lead Weights placed at first in the Car, to prevent any Fatigue in holding the Lines, and the Necessity of weighing, unless at the Time of Ascent, to determine the Power of Levity.

24. It may be proper to mention that Mr. Baldwin being resolved to prevent the disagreeable Circumstances of being weighed in the Presence of Thousand spectators, at a Time when it is uncertain whether the Balloon has acquired a sufficient Degree of Levity to raise his own Weight, together with the Instruments, Provisions, Ballast, and other Articles, all which are known or easily calculated; finding some Days before, his own Weight, and having calculated the rest as under⁠[7]; he ordered his Servant, on the Day of the Excursion, to bring Lead Weights equal to the Sum total, with an overplus Weight of 10lb. for Levity of Ascent, and place them gradually in the Car, attached for that Purpose to the Balloon, soon after the Inflation began. By which Means the Gentlemen who held the Cords were quite at Ease: nor was there Occasion to tye the Lines during the Inflation, to Posts fixed in the Circumference of the Circle; nor consequently to cut them afterwards.

But it will be seen that Mr. Lunardi inflated the Balloon in a superior Manner.

25. All Things being thus prepared, Mr. Baldwin stepped into the Car: and finding, that, besides his own Weight, the Provisions, Articles, Ballast, &c. the Balloon woud support an additional Weight, and still rise with superior Levity; Mr. Lunardi put in 12lb. of additional Ballast, and guessed the encreased Levity at 10lb. more.

Additional Ballast
12
Levity
10
——
22
Added to the
234
——
Make the Sum
256lb.

All which added to the Weight of the Balloon, by Information only, as follows:

Balloon varnished
113
Netting and Cords
18
Car and Hoops
24
Mended and added Parts
5
Grapple and Cable
4
——
164
With the
256
Make the total Levity of the Gass to produce an Equilibrium, equal to
420lb.

The Weight of a Quantity of Air equal in Bulk to the Balloon, being secluded; and the Gass substituted in its Room.

Weight of Articles.

26. The Calculation of the Weight of Articles was, as follows:

Articles. Pounds
Averd.		 Ounces.
1. Eight coloured Bladders⁠[8] (Section 13, Art. 18)
1
–
0
2. Preparations against extreme Cold.
    A Winter Dress.
Flannel or woollen Socks
0
–
14
Cap
Gloves
Drawers
Under Stockings
——— Waistcoat
3. Brandy, Water, Flask, and Refreshments
1
–
8
4. Barometer (portable)
0
–
12​1⁄2
5. Thermometer
0
–
3
6. Dial-Compass (a Mariner’s Compass in a double Box, will traverse better)
0
–
3​1⁄2
7. Two white Flags, with Dutch Twine on two Reels furnished with Swivels
0
–
4
8. Asses Skin Pocket Book, Blank Cards, Pencils, Knife and Scissars
0
–
4​1⁄2
9. Map of Cheshire boarded, the superfluous Parts cut away
0
–
3
10. Speaking Trumpet
0
–
8​1⁄2
11. Mr. Lunardi’s Flag
3
–
8
12. Basket and eight Pint Bottles labelled, one full of Brandy, another of Water
8
–
3
—————
20
–
0
Weight of Ballast.

27. The Ballast consisted of three Bags of dry Sand, and two red grit Stones, taken while in the Car, additional.

1st Bag tyed up weighed
12lb.
2d Ditto
12
3d untyed Ditto
20
1st red Grit
7
2d red Grit
5
——
In all
56lb.