the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
more ascended。 He eventually came to earth near a Hertfordshire village
about 30 miles to the north of London。
15
… Page 16…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER V The Father of British Aeronauts
No account of the early history of English aeronautics could possibly
be complete unless it included a description of the Nassau balloon； which
was inflated by coal…gas； from the suggestion of Mr。 Charles Green； who
was one of Britain's most famous aeronauts。 Because of his institution of
the modern method of using coal…gas in a balloon； Mr。 Green is generally
spoken of as the Father of British Aeronautics。 During the close of the
eighteenth and the opening years of the nineteenth century there had been
numerous ascents in Charlier balloons； both in Britain and on the
Continent。 It had already been discovered that hydrogen gas was highly
dangerous and also expensive； and Mr。 Green proposed to try the
experiment of inflating a balloon with ordinary coal…gas； which had now
become fairly common in most large towns； and was much less costly than
hydrogen。
Critics of the new scheme assured the promoters that coal…gas would
be of little use for a balloon； averring that it had comparatively little lifting
power； and aeronauts could never expect to rise to any great altitude in
such a balloon。 But Green firmly believed that his theory was practical；
and he put it to the test。 The initial experiments quite convinced him that
he was right。 Under his superintendence a fine balloon about 80 feet high；
built of silk； was made in South London； and the car was constructed to
hold from fifteen to twenty passengers。 When the craft was completed it
was proposed to send it to Paris for exhibition purposes； and the inventor；
with two friends； Messrs。 Holland and Mason； decided to take it over the
Channel by air。 It is said that provisions were taken in sufficient quantities
to last a fortnight； and over a ton of ballast was shipped。
The journey commenced in November； 1836； late in the afternoon； as
the aeronauts had planned to cross the sea by night。 A fairly strong north…
west wind quickly bore them to the coast； and in less than an hour they
found themselves over the lights of Calais。 On and on they went； now and
then entirely lost to Earth through being enveloped in dense fog； hour after
hour went by； until at length dawn revealed a densely…wooded tract of
country with which they were entirely unfamiliar。 They decided to land；
16
… Page 17…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
and they were greatly surprised to find that they had reached Weilburg； in
Nassau； Germany。 The whole journey of 500 miles had been made in
eighteen hours。
Probably no British aeronaut has made more daring and exciting
ascents than Mr。 Greenunless it be a member of the famous Spencer
family； of whom we speak in another chapter。 It is said that Mr。 Green
went aloft over a thousand times； and in later years he was accompanied
by various passengers who were making ascents for scientific purposes。
His skill was so great that though he had numerous hairbreadth escapes he
seldom suffered much bodily harm。 He lived to the ripe old age of eighty…
five。
17
… Page 18…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER VI The Parachute
No doubt many of those who read this book have seen an aeronaut
descend from a balloon by the aid of a parachute。 For many years this
performance has been one of the most attractive items on the programmes
of fetes； galas； and various other outdoor exhibitions。
The word 〃parachute〃 has been almost bodily taken from the French
language。 It is derived from the French parer to parry； and chute a fall。 In
appearance a parachute is very similar to an enormous umbrella。
M。 Blanchard； one of the pioneers of ballooning； has the honour of
first using a parachute； although not in person。 The first 〃aeronaut〃 to
descend by this apparatus was a dog。 The astonished animal was placed in
a basket attached to a parachute； taken up in a balloon； and after reaching a
considerable altitude was released。 Happily for the dog the parachute acted
quite admirably； and the animal had a graceful and gentle descent。
Shortly afterwards a well…known French aeronaut； M。 Garnerin； had an
equally satisfactory descent； and soon the parachute was used by most of
the prominent aeronauts of the day。 Mr。 Cocking； a well…known balloonist；
held somewhat different views from those of other inventors as to the best
form of construction of parachutes。 His idea was that a parachute should
be very large and rather heavy in order to be able to support a great weight。
His first descent from a great height was also his last。 In 1837；
accompanied by Messrs。 Spencer and Green； he went up with his
parachute； attached to the Nassau balloon。 At a height of about a mile the
parachute was liberated； but it failed to act properly； the inventor was cast
headlong to earth； and dashed to death。
From time to time it has been thought that the parachute might be used
for life…saving on the modern dirigible air…ship； and even on the aeroplane；
and experiments have been carried out with that end in view。 A most
thrilling descent from an air…ship by means of a parachute was that made
by Major Maitland； Commander of the British Airship Squadron； which
forms part of the Royal Flying Corps。 The descent took place from the
Delta air…ship； which ascended from Farnborough Common。 In the car
with Major Maitland were the pilot； Captain Waterlow； and a passenger。
18
… Page 19…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
The parachute was suspended from the rigging of the Delta； and when a
height of about 2000 feet had been reached it was dropped over to the side
of the car。 With the dirigible travelling at about 20 miles an hour the major
climbed over the car and seated himself in the parachute。 Then it became
detached from the Delta and shot downwards for about 200 feet at a
terrific rate。 For a moment or two it was thought that the opening
apparatus had failed to work； but gradually the 〃umbrella〃 opened； and the
gallant major had a gentle descent for the rest of the distance。
This experiment was really made in order to prove the stability of an
air…ship after a comparatively great weight was suddenly removed from it。
Lord Edward Grosvenor； who is attached to the Royal Flying Corps； was
one of the eyewitnesses of the descent。 In speaking of it he said： 〃We all
think highly of Major Maitland's performance； which has shown how the
difficulty of lightening an air…ship after a long flight can be surmounted。
During a voyage of several hours a dirigible naturally loses gas； and
without some means of relieving her of weight she might have to descend
in a hostile country。 Major Maitland has proved the practicability of
members of an air…ship's crew dropping to the ground if the necessity
arises。〃
A descent in a parachute has also been made from an aeroplane by M。
Pegoud； the daring French airman； of whom we speak later。 A certain
Frenchman； M。 Bonnet； had constructed a parachute which was intended
to be used by the pilot of an aeroplane if on any occasion he got into
difficulties。 It had been tried in many ways； but； unfortunately for the
inventor； he could get no pilot to trust himself to it。 Tempting offers were
made to pilots of world…wide fame； but either the risk was thought to be
too great； or it was believed that no practical good would come of the
experiment。 At last the inventor approached M。 Pegoud； who undertook to
make the descent。 This was accomplished from a great height with perfect
safety。 It seems highly probable that in the near future the parachute will
form part of the equipment of every aeroplane and air…ship。
19
… Page 20…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER VII Some British Inventors of Air…ships
The first Englishman to invent an air…ship was Mr。 Stanley Spencer；
head of the well…known firm of Spencer Brothers； whose worksare at
Highbury； North London。
This firm has long held an honourable place in aeronautics； both in the
construction of air…craft and in aerial navigation。 Spencer Brothers claim
to be the premier balloon manufacturers in the world； and； at the time of
writing； eighteen balloons and two dirigibles lie in the works ready for use。
In these works there may also be seen the frame of the famous Santos…
Dumont air…ship； referred to later in this book。
In general appearance the first Spencer air…ship was very similar to the
airship flown by Santos…Dumont； that is； there was the cigar…shaped
balloon； the small engine； and the screw propellor for driving the craft
forward。
But there was one very important distinction between the two air…ships。
By a most ingenious contrivance the envelope was made so that； in the
event of a large and serious escape of gas； the balloon would assume the
form of a giant umbrella； and fall to earth after the manner of a parachute。
All inventors profit； or should profit； by the experience of others；
whether such experience be gained by success or failure。 It was found that
Santos…Dumont's air…ship lost a considerable amount of gas when driven
through the air； and on several occasions the whole craft was in great
danger of collapse。 To keep the envelope inflated as tightly as possible Mr。
Spencer； by a clever contrivance； made it possible to force air into the
balloon to replace the esca
