Balloons inflated with hydrogen gas are almost the
only ones in use at the present day. Scarcely ever is a
Montgolfier sent up. There are aeronauts, however, who prefer a
journey in a Montgolfier to one in a gas-balloon. The air
voyager in this description of balloon had formerly many
difficulties to contend with. The quantity of combustible
material which he was bound to carry with him; the very little
difference that there is between the density of heated and of
cold air; the necessity of feeding the fire, and watching it
without a moment's cessation, as it hangs in the rechaud over the
middle of the car, rendered this sort of air travelling subject
to many dangers and difficulties. Recently, M. Eugene Godard has
obviated a portion of this difficulty by fitting a chimney, like
that which is found of such incalculable service in the case of
the Davy lamp. It is principally on account of this improvement
that the Montgolfiere has risen so highly in popular esteem.
Generally it is not pure hydrogen that is made use of in the
inflation of balloons. Aeronauts content themselves with the gas
which we burn in our streets and houses, and thus it suffices, in
inflating the balloon, to obtain from the nearest gas-works the
quantity of gas necessary, and to lead it, by means of a pipe or
tube, from the gasometer to the mouth or neck of the machine.
Pages:
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52