the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第5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！
innumerable housetops。
This trip was memorable in another way。 It was probably the only
aerial cruise where a Royal Council was put off in order to witness the
flight。 It is recorded that George the Third was in conference with the
Cabinet； and when news arrived in the Council Chamber that Lunardi was
aloft； the king remarked： Gentlemen； we may resume our deliberations at
pleasure； but we may never see poor Lunardi again！〃
The journey was uneventful； there was a moderate northerly breeze；
and the aeronaut attained a considerable altitude； so that he and his
animals were in danger of frost…bite。 Indeed； one of the animals suffered
so severely from the effects of the cold that Lunardi skilfully descended
low enough to drop it safely to earth； and then； throwing out ballast； once
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 gradual
