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Airopaidia

Chapter 51: THIRD BALLOON-IRIS
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  XXV.

THIRD BALLOON-IRIS

Balloon-shadow.

Section 135. THE successive Operations of untying the Neck, and repeated Trials of the Valve, brought the Observer so low, that he coud trace the Image of the Balloon on the upper Surface of light silvery Clouds beneath him.

Third Balloon-Iris.

136. Iris, a bright celestial Nymph, his former Attendant, deck’d in gay Attire as usual for the Bow, made her third Appearance: instantly encircling the Balloon. Nor was her Iris remained.Stay so short as before; as if to recompense the Aironaut for the lost The Earth disappeared.Sight of Earth and all terrestrial Objects, which then began to disappear.

137. In less than a Minute after the Deflation; the Neck of the Balloon continuing to be held tight in the Hand; the Balloon quickly encreased in Bulk, and soared aloft, as before.

Balloon alternately rising and falling.

138. It continued rising as long as the Hand coud reach to hold the Neck tight: and, on loosing it an Instant, made a rapid Descent: on Account of the Gass which escaped, and of the atmospheric Air which rushed in by the same Opening at the Bottom.

The Play of fast and loose repeated.

139. The alternate Play of fast and loose, was frequently and successfully repeated: the Balloon always rising till it swelled out of the Reach of the Hand: at which Time it was let go: and the Neck (as well as the Balloon) descending; was presently caught in the Hand, and made Air-tight as before.

Manouvres seen at the Distance of 15 Miles.

140. These Manouvres were performed, at a Height far above the Level of all Clouds, and in Sight of Numbers of People: some of whom were at least 15 Miles distance: yet coud plainly, from an Eminence called Hoole-Mill Field, a Couple of Miles from Chester, discover the Balloon at an amazing Height, darting up and down several Times; or as they expressed themselves, “quivering and warping in the Air.”