Balloons are a kind of symbol of the development of civilization, these devices were the first to realize the dream of a person to rise into the sky. They were used for scientific purposes, in military affairs, sports, and entertainment. Through the efforts of enthusiasts, this symbol has been preserved and developed to this day.
A balloon is an aircraft that uses the lift of light gases enclosed in a gas-tight envelope. Usually it is hydrogen and helium, which have a density lower than that of atmospheric air. A buoyant (Archimedean) force acts on the balloon; under its action, it rises until it equals its gravity.
How it all began
The first working balloon was created by the Montgolfier brothers, at the end of the 18th century in France. This balloon was made of linen and filled with air heated to 100 ° C. In the future, such devices began to be called hot air balloons. On the first trip, the French sent a duck, a rooster and a sheep. The balloon rose 500 meters and flew about two kilometers. Around the same time, the scientist J. Charles, also a Frenchman, designed and built a hydrogen balloon. The shell was made of fine silk and covered with a rubber solution.
The first balloon flights were recreational in nature, but soon balloons began to be used for geographical and geological research and at military events. In 1805, the participants of the Russian round-the-world expedition used a balloon for the first time to observe air currents. Austrian troops in 1849 dropped incendiary and explosive bombs on Venice with the help of balloons. During the Franco-Prussian War, the postal connection of the blocked Paris with the rest of France was established by means of balloons.
What are the balloons
Free balloons are unguided aerial vehicles, they can have a crew or do without it, make short and long flights. They are equipped with devices for adjusting the ascent height, take-off and descent speed. That is, the crew can stop flying when needed, but the direction of movement depends on the air currents. This balloon has a soft shell filled with gas and a pilot's nacelle suspended from the lines. The gondola can be open and airtight. Stratospheric balloons had a pressurized cabin, which rose over 15 km into the stratosphere for scientific research and astronomical observations. Unmanned balloons were supplied with containers for scientific equipment.
Tethered balloons are similar in design and principle of operation to free balloons, but they are held by a tied cable attached to a winch. By changing the length of the cable, the lifting height can be adjusted. With a crew, balloons rise up to 2 km, and without a crew up to 10 km. Tethered balloons are used for military purposes, as observation towers, for training parachutists.
Airships (controlled balloons) appeared only in the middle of the 19th century. To improve maneuverability and achieve controllability, propellers began to be attached to the balloons. The most famous airships were the aircraft of the company under the leadership of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. Unlike other vehicles of that time, German airships had a metal frame. Zeppelin airships were used for military and civilian purposes. The golden years of the Zeppelin lasted until the 20s of the 20th century, before the beginning of the era of aircraft construction.
Today balloons and airships are mainly used for entertainment. A hot air balloon ride is a favorite pastime of many people around the world. More than 400 different aeronautical festivals are held annually, the most famous of which are the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, the Big Bear Balloon Festival in New Jersey, and the Albuquerque Balloon Festival.
