Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

# Content Page 1 A Japanese War Weapon and ’s Famous Flight 2 2 New World Record: 82 Balloons Take Flight to Cross English Channel 5 3 World’s Largest Achieves a Three-Hour Test Flight 6 4 Konyukhov Plans for High-Altitude Record Attempt 8 5 Exhibition Portrays Birth-of-Flight Era 10 Leak Causes Scientific and Space Observatory Payload to Sink 6 15 in Pacific Ocean 7 Fifty Years of Balloon-Borne Ozone Research 16 8 Balloon Fleet for English Channel Crossing on Amber Alert 18 Weather Not Favorable for March17th Launch; Balloon Fleet on 9 19 “Standby” Again! 10 Balloon Fleet for Channel Crossing on "GREEN" for April 7th 19

Office Location: Maryland, USA Contact Information: Ms. Sitara Maruf Phone: (240) 426-2040 Emails: [email protected] [email protected]

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

1) A Japanese War Weapon and Don Piccard’s Famous Flight Some of these balloons were retrieved by the FBI. They were 33 feet in diameter, carried 33- by Sitara Maruf, 31st May 2017 pound bombs, and had a volume of 19,000 cubic feet. “In one way, the Japanese had assumed correctly that Americans are gossipy and so they would get news about the bombs hitting their intended target, but what they had not realized was that the American government planned very efficient censorship efforts, and except for a couple of brief reports, there wasn’t any mention in the US or Canadian press,” said Unsworth. This (mis)led the Japanese to believe that their balloon bombs had missed their mark, and they abandoned the operation in April 1945.

While project FU-GO failed as an effective intercontinental bombing system, it reignited a passion for hot-air ballooning in Donald Louis Piccard (born 1926), who came to be known as the father of modern hot-air ballooning in the . Piccard was a navy balloon and Historic Balloon to Become Museum Exhibit in Michigan (Part 1 of 2) airship rigger in World War II, stationed at During World War II, the Japanese used writer, and retired history librarian at the Lakehurst, . Born in the family of the knowledge of atmospheric science and lighter- Michigan State University. “They used their world’s most famous balloonists, the son of Jean than-air technology to attack US mainland from calculations and discovered that jet stream, and , he had first flown in a November 1944 through April 1945. About which frankly was a big surprise to the balloon in 1933, when he was enlisted as “crew” 9,300 balloons strapped with explosives, called Americans.” by his mother, who was getting her balloon FU-GOs, were launched from Japan to ride a jet pilot’s license! In 1937, his parents made a stream –30,000 feet above and across the Pacific However, most balloon bombs fell short into the historic balloon flight to 57,579 feet into the Ocean–and hit North America. Pacific and out of the 300 that reached the United stratosphere and his mother became the first States, Canada, and Mexico, only a few woman to fly to the edge of space. exploded, and one caused a tragedy on May 5, 1945. A Sunday school teacher and five children were killed near Bly, Oregon when, on their way to a picnic, they came across one of the balloons and inadvertently set off the bomb.

Photo before taking off on the 1947 FUGO

The Japanese launched 9,300 balloon bombs to flight, shows Don’s mother holding homemade ride the jet stream across the Pacific Ocean “Statoscope” for showing minute altitude and hit mainland United States. 300 made it, changes. Don’s father observes. (The “statoscope” was a bottle with a U tube and one caused tragedy. containing colored fluid – as the balloon goes “They had a very active meteorological research up air bubbles out. As it goes down air bubbles program and they did a lot of experimentation in in through the U. You can see the change with a the pre-war era, which was military directed,” two-foot movement. Very low tech, but very said Michael Unsworth, World War II researcher Japanese FUGO balloon carried a 33lb anti- useful in flying the balloon.) Photo reprinted and personnel bomb with permission of Star Tribune, 2/20

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

At the Naval Air Station, Piccard oversaw the recovered FU-GOs. “The FU-GO balloons were probably one of the most efficient and most hazardous weapons that have been developed,” said Piccard in a phone interview. “But the Japanese knew they had poor quality fuses, and so they used two. If one fails, you have the other. And those that got here, were the ones that failed. Had they used three fuses, more balloons would have gotten here,” he said.

According to Piccard, the question of war always comes down to economics. “Each FU-GO balloon cost $180 to have it in the air with those bombs, but it cost much more than that to shoot it down. And if it wasn’t shot down, it would have cost much more than that for suppression of any fires it started, so economically, it was a remarkable weapon.”

Don Piccard’s flight. Photo shows Foshay tower on right and the Basilica on left. The Foshay

Don Piccard-Known as the father of modern Tower was the only tall building in Minneapolis. It is now hidden by other buildings. It concerned hot air ballooning in US. Photo from Facebook Don, but he cleared it easily once in the air. Photo reprinted with permission of Star Tribune, Minneapolis When the navy had finished testing the FU-GOs, equipment and also to reactivate the sport and created, and some senior officers saw an

Piccard was asked to haul these little known create interest in the sport of ballooning.” opportunity for publicity in a FU-GO balloon Japanese weapons to the dumpster and was given ascension. a property pass. Coming from a family with a He did not know how he would get it airborne, remarkable history in balloon experimentation, but he had dreams. But twenty-one-year old Piccard lacked a his fascination for the balloon was inevitable, balloon pilot’s license. He had flown over 40 In an article published in the May 2001 issue of hours in balloons but still needed two hours of and so he asked his senior officer if he could Air & Space Magazine, Piccard wrote, “There keep one. “Sure. Take it,” the officer replied. solo flight to earn the first Free Balloon Pilot were no civilian balloonists active anywhere in Certificate issued from the Civil Aviation “The balloon was captured enemy equipment America then. But, after the war, I became a Agency (now the Federal Aviation according to technicalities, and as part of the student in aeronautical engineering at the Administration). regulations of the time, the navy was able to give —then the nation’s it to me for use,” Piccard said, adding that he was center of balloon research… I also joined the “I chose the Japanese paper balloon to make that not interested in any of the attachments of the Army Air Forces Reserve Officers Training flight,” he said. “It was a very well-made balloon but only in the balloon envelope. “I Corps (ROTC).” envelope and very tough. Ralph Upson studied it and said I had a 50 to 1 safety factor, which wanted to reuse the balloon for little bit of In 1947, the US Air Force was going to be scientific research and development of new means the envelope fabric was 50 times stronger

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Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017 than it needed to be in a sport balloon.” The soil was another bang, bang, bang, as it landed,” tough envelope had weathered a Pacific he said. Crossing, but to change it to a manned flight mission, Piccard made several modifications. Did he receive a hero’s welcome? “Oh, I don’t think so,” he said with a chuckle. Many people came forward to get the project aloft, and the major sponsor was the Minneapolis Piccard’s ascension in the balloon was hailed as Daily Times who got the expensive hydrogen a big event and was covered well in the US and sand ballast. Area military units provided media. At that time, he was the only person in scraps of aluminum to make the basket, which he the United States with a balloon and a balloon did with the help of workers, at the University of pilot’s license. Minnesota medical laboratory, and the Fuller For decades, Piccard promoted ballooning as a Company even figured out a glue that would sport and hobby and his list of firsts is hold the Japanese mulberry paper. impressive, which also include original works in “They [the navy] were interested in seeing the building hot-air balloons and super pressure sport of ballooning reactivated. The army, air balloons. force, and the navy have always helped the sport His dare-devil flight in the FU-GO balloon of ballooning because they feel it is educational launched the modern ballooning era in the for aeronautics and beneficial to the military United States, but he could never fly old FU-GO forces. They have people who are active in the again. “The official papers that the navy gave me sport, and it is the same in the European Don Piccard’s basket on display at the to release it to my ownership were not countries,” said Piccard. National Air and Space Museum in Virginia. recognized by the FAA as an appropriate title of But wasn’t there any experienced or licensed Piccard flew in this basket in his famous 1947 ownership,” he explained. balloonist in the military to make the ascension? FUGO balloon flight as a student pilot; in 1959 But if the past four months’ developments are “The army terminated their free balloon training to commemorate John Wise’s flight; and, in any indication, “FUGO-the balloon” seems to program near the beginning of World War II. 1961 rose to an altitude of 34,642 feet, creating have a mind of its own and was determined to And the navy used free balloons for training for an altitude record for gas balloons in that tell another interesting story–this one from its throughout that period,” he said. In any category. Photo: The Balloon Journal prior service as a Japanese balloon bomb and case, the decision to fly was his. “I wanted to get also create more buzz. my pilot’s license, I wanted to advance the “Or, I would not have done it,” he said, emphatically. design of balloons, and I wanted to advance the This February, Brent Ashcroft a reporter from sport of ballooning.” Most of his two-hour-and-10-minute flight was WZZM 13 TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, contacted Piccard while researching a local The launch day was set in February—when below 3000-foot altitude. story, “When the War Came to Dorr.” Ashcroft Minneapolis is frigid with the average high at “The colder the weather, the more lift the asked Piccard to confirm if a FUGO balloon 29°F and average low at 13°F. The sky was balloon has, and the weather was very stable. from Michigan had come into his possession and overcast. Piccard had dressed up in a cozy fur There were no thermals, so it was very easy. I if he had made the famous 1947 flight in lined Japanese air suit “worn in honor of the was very fortunate,” he said. Minneapolis. “Yes,” said Piccard, adding that he balloon’s own heritage” and lifted off for the still had that FUGO balloon preserved in a drum first post-war civilian free flight. The wind speed was also comfortable during in his garage for 72 years! descent. “I came in slowly, vented the balloon “I had never flown a paper balloon before. I had down until my ground crew arrived [which In North Dorr, Michigan, that nugget of never flown with hydrogen before. Nor had I included volunteers from the Corps], and they information was enough for some citizens to ever flown with an overcast sky before, or in a deflated it onto the ground cloth,” he recalled. launch a campaign to bring the balloon “back” to balloon without a net. I had never flown alone where it had landed, apparently near what is now before, but it was infinitely heavenly,” he wrote The landing, however, was not smooth. “I the Byron Center Museum. in the Air & Space Magazine article. landed in an open plowed field that was frozen, so every furrow and every ridge of the frozen …to be continued in part 2 soon And yet, he had no concerns before the flight.

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Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

2) New World Record: 82 Balloons Take Flight to Cross travelled so far to make this truly an international and unforgettable flight,” Holly says. “The 2011 English Channel flight was my favorite of all time and we were by Sitara Maruf, 10th April 2017 thrilled to be able to give so many pilots from all over Europe the opportunity to have the same experience. It has been a fantastic day and I think this morning’s flight is now top of my list.”

Pilots from 10 different countries took part in the event and plans for the flight have been in the works for months. The flight was on standby since March 5, with Exclusive Ballooning eventually landing on a perfect date with optimal flying conditions.

“The weather conditions needed for this flight are very specific and the conditions on Friday were near perfect,” Moore says. “The 2011 flight was on standby for six months before a suitable slot appeared. We have been on standby for only five weeks for this flight. It must have been fate though as the 2011 flight was on April 7, too.” Balloons took to the skies in record numbers on for Exclusive Ballooning, tells The Balloon Friday, April 7, as 82 hot air balloons launched Journal. “Ballooning has a wonderful Alan Turner, a Cotswolds pilot of the Joinerysoft from Lydden Hill Race Circuit at 7 a.m., and community ethos and can be a family oriented Balloon, took part in the flight with his wife traveled over the famous White Cliffs of Dover hobby or a highly competitive sport. We are very Kirsten, while his teenage sons, Robert and to Calais, France, etching a place in the Guinness proud to be able to introduce people to Matthew, acted as the balloon’s crew. Book of World Records. ballooning and encourage and inspire new pilots.” “It was a true family adventure,” he says. “The The event was organized by Exclusive weather conditions were perfect. There was a Ballooning and sponsored by recruitment The previous record, coincidentally set six years decent amount of steerage at different heights processing outsourcing specialists Datum RPO. earlier to the day, involved 49 balloons where the winds were in a slightly different completing the flight. direction, this meant that we could choose whether to stay within the center of the pack or The Datum RPO bespoke hot air balloon led the go it alone at the edge. We chose to stay in the pack over the 35km distance of water and was center.” piloted by company director James Strickland. Overall, the Joinerysoft was in the air for 2 hours “What a fantastic flight in perfect weather and 30 minutes, more than half over the water. conditions,” Strickland says. “Having flown across the Channel in 2011, this time was truly “The most disconcerting thing was not being amazing to break the Guinness Book of Record able to see the French Coast due to the haze,” attempt. Of all the flights I have ever done, this Turner says. “We flew over the White Cliffs of has to be number one.” Dover and could only see an expanse of sea as far as the eye could see. Land appeared through Exclusive Ballooning’s Director Andrew Holly the haze when we were only five miles away 82 balloons set a world record on Friday. flew alongside Strickland in the official Lord from the French Coast.” Mayor’s Appeal hot air balloon, which was “It is fantastic to be able to organize an event enjoying its maiden flight, having been unveiled which includes so many European pilots and for the first time on the launch site that day. helps to raise the profile of ballooning around the world,” Louise Moore, Operations Manager “Thank you to all the pilots and crews who 5/20

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

“I have been a balloon pilot for 30 years and have returned to the UK.” always dreamed of flying across the English Channel, but have not had the opportunity as the Other key supporters had their own bespoke very specific weather requirements for a safe balloons flying including Omega Resource crossing are very rare,” he says. “The excitement Group, Aberdeen Asset Management, Keltbray, on Friday was amazing and the trip went very Longleat, Hospital Records, Silverline, smoothly, so we were able to enjoy every Renishaw and Ricoh. minute. To be part of a World Record is a very important part of my ballooning career.”

According to Langley, the balloonists took off from just outside Dover and landed south of Calais at 8:23 in absolutely ideal weather conditions.

“The distance covered was 32 miles and our average speed was 14 mph, although we did reach 22 mph at one point in the flight,” he says. “We cruised at 1,000 feet above sea level, but did climb to 3,200 feet for a short time. The view was extraordinary and we could still see Dover, “We are hugely proud of our achievement and half way across the Channel, but France was are still looking through the hundreds of photos Balloon pilot Alan Turner flying across the very hazy. We landed safely in a large grass of the flight and receiving dozens of thank you English Channel, on April 7,2017. Photo field, just a few miles inland from the coast and messages,” Moore says. “Social media has courtesy: Joinerysoft met a couple of very friendly local people, played a big role in allowing this flight to be including the farmer. We gave him a bottle of Turner notes that being able to fly across an shared globally and in particular within the whisky as a thank you and then our ground crew expanse of water such as the English Channel is ballooning community.” arrived and we packed up the balloon and pretty remarkable in its own right, but the fact that it was an attempt to break a world record made the flight even more special. 3) World’s Largest Airship Achieves a Three-Hour Test Flight by Sitara Maruf, 10th May 2017

“It’s only thanks to the hard work and efforts of organizers Exclusive Ballooning that a flight of this magnitude becomes possible,” he says. “Such a prestigious event introduces hot air ballooning to a new audience. It would be great if hot air ballooning as a hobby became more accessible to young people.”

Nick Langley, managing director of Airship & Balloon Company Ltd., flew Prison Stuart, one

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Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

The world’s largest aircraft returned to the skies Airlander’s flight test program began in August objectives: since its last crash landing in August and flew for 2016 when the airship flew twice around three hours today. The $33 million hybrid Cardington Airfield. Its cockpit crashed on the To conduct a full test flight – i.e. complete a safe airship, which is part blimp, aircraft, and second test flight following a heavy landing but take-off, flight, and landing of the aircraft. the two test pilots and ground crew were helicopter and is the length of a football field, To establish basic handling characteristics of reported alive and well. The crash led to a nine took off over Bedfordshire, in England. Airlander within a well-defined flight envelope month of assessment and repair phase, which including assessment of the new ALS. brought in a more powerful and more maneuverable Mobile Mooring Mast (MMM), To collect flight performance data, such as and the additional “inflatable landing feet” of the handling, airspeed and all vehicle systems, for Auxiliary Landing System (ALS). post-flight analysis. (This increases the understanding of the aircraft’s performance, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), the British capabilities, and operating envelope.) manufacturer of the giant helium-filled airship said that the ALS performed as expected on “This is a great testament to the tenacity and landing, and the Flight Test Team were very ingenuity of the team of engineers at Hybrid Air pleased with the initial analysis of this new Vehicles, who are continually pushing the addition to Airlander’s landing system. boundaries of aviation with this amazing

Airlander10, Repaired Cockpit, Feb.2017 Photo credit: HAV

Airlander10 makes a 3-hour flight on 10th May,2017. Photo credit: HAV

At 5:20 p.m. the Airlander was taken off its mooring mast at Cardington Airfield and after accomplishing all the objectives during a three- hour flight, it landed at 8:15 p.m.

“It was truly amazing to be back in the air. I loved every minute of the flight and the Airlander itself handled superbly. I am eager to get back into the cockpit and take her flying again,” said Chief Test Pilot, Dave Burns who Airlander 10-Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in Training. Photo credit: HAV was accompanied by Experimental Test Pilot, The company noted in their press release that aircraft,” said Technical Director, Mike Durham. Simon Davies. today’s flight successfully achieved the three test 7/20

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HAV officials are hopeful that the Airlander 10 could be achieved from door-to-door, even in will usher in the era of the new generation of remote areas with no runway or infrastructure. airship, and provide an ultra-stable, powerful, and long endurance platform that will be useful According to HAV, the airship “will have a in many ways. With a price tag of $33 million hugely positive impact on the world by dollars, (£25m) — less than one-tenth of the cost providing low carbon aviation and brand new of jetliners– the airship could be used for search capabilities in the sky.” Those capabilities are and rescue, border control, coast guarding, lifting 10 tons of payload over longer distances, crowd monitoring, security, academic research, less fuel consumption than an airplane, ability to filming, and also for transportation of passengers rise to 20,000 feet, staying aloft for five days on and cargo. Moreover, the mission and operations manned flights, and reaching speeds up to 90 miles an hour.

4) Konyukhov Plans for High-Altitude Record Attempt by Sitara Maruf, 5th March 2017

High-Altitude Envelope Courtesy of Cameron Balloons

(8.5 km) of fabric and it will be the largest hot- air balloon ever built. The balloon’s volume will be 3.5 million cubic feet, and it will stand over 68 meters tall and 61 meters across, at its widest point.

Russian explorer and balloonist Fedor balloon over Mumbai, India, and landed safely, Konyukhov who set a new world record flying a few hours later. solo around the world, last July, is preparing for another adventure — a hot air balloon ascension Fedor’s aim is to soar higher than Singhania, see to the stratosphere. the curvature of the earth and gaze at the inky- blackness of the cosmos – which can be Cameron Balloons, manufacturer of the three observed from altitudes of about 35,000 meters balloons used by aeronauts for their successful (114,800 feet). This altitude is nearly four times round-the-world flight, including Konyukhov’s the height of Mount Everest, which is at 29,035 balloon, will also manufacture his stratospheric feet above sea level and is Earth’s highest hot-air balloon. elevation. He will also be rising almost four times the altitude of jet airliners that fly between The world-record for highest altitude in a hot-air 30,000 and 40,000 feet. balloon is held by Indian businessman Vijaypat Singhania, who flew to an incredible altitude of According to Cameron Balloon’s website, the High-Altitude Gondola 21,027 meters (68,986 feet) on November 2005 balloon envelope will need over 8,500 meters Courtesy of Cameron Balloons 8/20

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017

Konyukhov, an intrepid explorer, recently meter category, set by two Japanese –Michio clinched yet another record in hot-air ballooning Kanda and Hirazuki Takezawa–who had flown for flying non-stop for 55 hours and 14 minutes. from Canada to United States in 50 hours 38 On February 7, 2017, Konyukhov and fellow minutes. balloon expert Ivan Menyaylo took off in a 10,000-cubic-meter balloon weighing five tons, Konyukhov also holds the world record for a from Yuzhny airfield in Rybinsk. solo round-the-world balloon flight in record time. For this historic flight, Konyukhov After cruising at speeds from six to 25 miles per received the newly instituted FAI-Breitling Pilot hour and at altitudes between 620 and 980 feet, of the Year Award, in , last they covered a distance of 1,029 kilometers (640 November. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in the world of air sports. In miles). They flew over central Russia toward the Fellow circumnavigator Brian Jones (right) addition, Konyukhov was also honored with the south-east and landed in Krasny Kut in Saratov. presented Fedor Konyukhov, with a special engraved Breitling watch. Courtesy of http://konyukhov.ru/en/news.html

Besides Konyukhov, America’s Steve Fossett, as well as the team of Switzerland’s and England’s Brian Jones have accomplished the feat of circumnavigating the globe in a balloon.

Konyukhov also has other world records for endurance and bravery. Well known for his skills as a boat man, at 15, Konyukhov crossed the Azov Sea on a rowboat from his hometown in what is now Ukraine to Russia. His many maritime expeditions across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans also include a solo journey in a rowboat across the Pacific that lasted 160 days.

Konyukhov has also trekked to the North and Size Scale: Altitude Record Balloon in Center South Poles and successfully climbed the seven Courtesy of Cameron Balloons summits—highest mountains of each of the seven continents. He has completed the Iditarod Konyukhov, an intrepid explorer, recently FAI Diploma. dog race and also traveled the Great Silk Road clinched yet another record in hot-air ballooning by camel. He is also an artist, a writer, and a for flying non-stop for 55 hours and 14 minutes. “I am extremely happy to have been given this Russian Orthodox priest. On February 7, 2017, Konyukhov and fellow award,” he said. “I’m really very proud. I thank all the people who helped make this happen.” balloon expert Ivan Menyaylo took off in a As for his soaring adventure, Konyukhov has 10,000-cubic-meter balloon weighing five tons, For his solo round-the-world flight, Konyukhov, indicated that he would like to attempt the high from Yuzhny airfield in Rybinsk. had taken off in his Rozière balloon (a altitude hot-air balloon flight in late summer 2017; however, with so many variants, Cameron After cruising at speeds from six to 25 miles per combination of helium cell and hot-air balloon) has agreed to a nine-month timeline from sales hour and at altitudes between 620 and 980 feet, named Morton from Northam in Western agreement to delivery. they covered a distance of 1,029 kilometers (640 Australia on 12th July 2016. After flying over a miles). They flew over central Russia toward the distance of 20, 502 miles (32,996 kilometers), south-east and landed in Krasny Kut in Saratov. around the Southern Hemisphere for 11 days, eight hours, and 42 minutes, he landed his Their flight of endurance broke the 1997 hot-air aircraft in Bonnie Rock, Western Australia, on balloon world record in the 9 000 to 12 000 cubic 23rd July. 9/20

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5) Exhibition Portrays Birth -of-Flight Era by Sitara Maruf, 4th April 2017

Patch Box. National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian

Dr. Tom Crouch, senior curator of aeronautics at the National Air and Space Museum, said in an interview with The Balloon Journal that Mrs. Kendall amassed over 1,000 works of art, prints, posters, objects, manuscripts, and books documenting the history of flight. “The treasures “Clouds in a Bag” on View at the National Air Ballooning and Early Aviation Collection.” in her collection provide a sense of the wonder and Space Museum’s Steven Udvar-Hazy Center

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Sophie Blanchard, became a celebrated balloonist and aeronautical entertainer drawing huge crowds to her balloon-based stunts. As fearless and ambitious as her husband, the famous French ballooning pioneer Jean-Pierre Blanchard, she rode tiny flimsy scaffolds for gondolas that became her style, and she delighted in creating dazzling fireworks, while swinging perilously from the balloon. However, the acrobatics were only a peril waiting to happen. On 7th July 1819 Madame Blanchard inevitably ignited the leaking hydrogen from the balloon. Her aircraft plunged, hitting a roof-top and the tiny gondola flipped and crashed into a chimney stack. She lost her footing and died after hitting the ground.

The petite and “bird-like” Madame Blanchard was also the official aeronaut to Emperor and flew a balloon in honor of the coronation of Louis XVIII in 1814. A hand- colored engraving depicting the latter event is part of a recently opened exhibition titled The first aviators, a sheep, a duck, and a rooster take off in a balloon in front of the Palace of “Clouds in a Bag: The Evelyn Way Kendall Versailles. Etching, French 1783. National Air and Space Museum, 10/20

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017 and excitement experienced by those who 18th and 19th centuries— decorative fans, china, While the Canadian-born Evelyn Way Kendall witnessed the birth of flight over two centuries snuff boxes, patch boxes, dance card cases, and and her wealthy industrialist husband Henry ago,” said Dr. Crouch. The current exhibition so forth, featuring fascinating miniature scenes Plimpton Kendall from were displays a small portion from the collection of of ballooning flights, launches, and shows. great collectors with broad interests, a over 1,000 pieces donated to the museum by the Down the long gallery wall, 51 prints and 18th ballooning adventure that hit close to home may Norfolk Charitable Trust. This is the first time century hand-colored paintings trace the notions have inspired Mrs. Kendall to collect balloon- these early aviation artifacts are on public of flying, the invention of the balloon in 1783, in themed works. This she did from 1920s to 1960s, display since the Smithsonian acquired the Annonay, France, and the subsequent until there was nothing left to buy. collection in 2014. To prevent the prints from “balloonamania” that swept cities in Europe, fading, they will be replaced by others in the pulling in throngs of crowds to balloon launches. According to Dr. Crouch, in 1920, three U.S. collection during a two-year period. “Before the French revolution, fashion and Navy balloonists had been blown away across a balloons pervaded the French society. You could storm from their Long Island base all the way to put a balloon picture on anything and it would Hudson’s Bay wilderness. “The Lost sell,” said Dr. Crouch, also an award-winning Balloonists, were front-page news. They had to aeronautical historian. “In the early 20th century, walk up for days, till they finally got to a railroad after World War I, the airplane was a big deal, track. Evelyn’s father William Beal Way, a and so people who were involved in aviation and supervisor with the Canadian National interested in history began to collect this 18th Railroads, was involved in the rescue of these

Decorative fan. National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian

Aeronaut Sophie Blanchard participates in the celebration of the entry of King Louis XVIII into Paris, May 4, 1814. Hand-colored engraving, French, 1814. National Air and Space Museum, Evelyn Way Kendall, National Air and Space Smithsonian Institution Museum, Smithsonian Institution century material. It was produced in abundance balloonists and wrote a 14-page account of the and available in antique shops,” he added. balloon voyage, its aftermath, and his The exhibit begins with 35 objects made in the involvement. His daughter Evelyn was 11/20

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017 especially fascinated,” said Dr. Crouch. And, in George Biggin. Lunardi, known to be a ladies’ had first occurred to US diplomat and scientist the summer of 1925 when she visited Europe, man, had invited the actress and Biggin to fly Benjamin Franklin when he watched the first she may have been drawn to the balloon prints with him on June 29, 1785. Unable to take off humans rise in Paris, but it was Napoléon and decorative items on display in antique shops with the actress’ weight of 200 pounds, the Bonaparte who launched the first in Paris. ladies’ man stepped out, leaving the lady with Biggin and encouraged his guests to take a flight Air Force in 1794. “I have a whole string of on their own! Lunardi did have some sense to images of the battle of Fleurus between the give a crash course on ballooning to Biggin, who French and the Austrians, but we decided to use was not a complete novice. With luck on just one for the show,” said Dr. Crouch. Balloons everyone’s side, the guests landed safely after a were used in the too, and two-hour flight in their . “In the 19th one painting portrays Thaddeus Lowe, the chief century, mostly gas balloons were flown because aeronaut of the Balloon Corps, in a they were efficient and could fly longer. Hot air battlefield in Virginia. balloons were used only for brief stunts,” said Another fanciful print suggests the aerial Dr. Crouch. invasion of Britain, which may be reflecting a And before airplanes were put to military use in military issue of the time that troubled many the 20th century, the lighter-than-air craft had French people—the fortress of Gibraltar, already been used in war as early as the 1790s by strongly defended by the British, could not be Spain, followed by France, Austria, and the accessed by land or sea. A story goes that, one United States. “Balloons in War” documents night in the year 1777, before he invented the hot these events. The idea of air balloon in 1783, Joseph Montgolfier was

Vincent Lunardi, the ultimate pilot and ladies’ man! Actress Letitia Anne Sage and Colonel George Biggin, June 29, 1785. National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

The exhibition is arranged in four sections. The “Four Fantastic Aeronauts” feature the Italian Vincenzo Lunardi, Englishmen James Sadler and Charles Green, and the American Thaddeus S. C. Lowe. As to how he settled on these four aeronauts, Dr. Crouch explained: “I decided to stick to the Kendall collection, and we decided not to use any portraits but only balloons. I was going to include Sophie Blanchard but there were not enough images of her in the Kendall collection.” The paintings capture their spectacular ascents, long-distance journeys, and aerial showmanship, as well as the idiosyncrasies, and comic and tragic situations. One painting shows the Italian aeronaut Lunardi Thaddeus Lowe’s Union Army Balloon Corps, in the Battle of Fair Oaks, VA, 31st May 1962 with actress Letitia Anne Sage and Colonel Lithograph, 1862, American.National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

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Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017 sitting by the fire at his home. A great dreamer, sulfuric acid and iron filings. Early nineteenth For the next century, balloons became popular as Joseph imagined whether French troops could be century illustrators also had the insight to show a form of entertainment, and the section titled lifted and floated by air above the heads of the a passenger balloon flight ready for a trip to the English, by the same force that was lifting the moon, as well as balloons, airships, and floating sparks from the fire. He knew he had an shops and bank in the skies! experiment on hand when he also noticed the chemise (or skirt?) that was hanging to dry Scientists and explorers used the balloon as a billow upward from the smoke. “Even before the research tool to learn about the upper atmosphere first balloon flight in Annonay, Joseph had and Earth, which continues even today and has written to his brother in 1782 that flying a progressed to learning about the universe. The balloon would be like putting a cloud in a paper “Exploring Science in a Balloon,” section has an bag,” said Dr. Crouch. 1819 etching that depicts the first balloon launch within the Arctic Circle. Another beautiful

How to get over the prohibition law Lithograph, American, 19th century National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

“Celebrations in the Sky” depict coronations, celebrations, and ballooning shows and stunts. The frenzy had flowed into the United States as well. “In 1860, the Japanese sent their first group of diplomats. When they arrived in Print suggests an aerial invasion of Great Britain. Etching, French, c. 1803. National Air and Space , the city fathers planned a balloon Museum, Smithsonian Institution ascent and they hired Thaddeus Lowe and As with anything, there are always comic artists painting shows the departure of Swedish William Paulin to make flights for them,” said who bring in the humor and laughter by making meteorologist Salomon August Andree and his Dr. Crouch about a print that was made by a light of ideas, people, and events. The section on two young fellow aviators Knut Fraenkel and Japanese painter seven years after the event. “Balloon in Social and Political Satire” depicts Nils Strindberg for the North Pole in 1897. The The artwork is not only a testimony to the skills the balloon as a key graphic element to reflect its trio disappeared and their last camp was and caliber of these intrepid men and women craze as well as its use to beat the system. One discovered by a passing ship in 1930. Journals who braved nature’s elements in a willful craft, painting shows a hilarious solution to the and photos found at the site tell details of their but it’s also a testimony to the talent of the problem of navigating the wayward aircraft, horrifying ordeal. painters who hand-colored the sketches to another, how to escape the prohibition law, and portray the magnificent scenes and gigantic yet another on how to keep spectators Creative minds in ballooning and those looking crowds. entertained—as they wait to watch the tedious for a hobby or an avenue for income found its and long process of making hydrogen gas using use as a spectacle or in short recreational rides. 13/20

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A painting shows the brave Elisa Garnerin who would go up in a balloon and parachute down to Earth. She made 30 parachute jumps between 1815 and 1836. “They would always put some weight on the balloon, so after she jumped, it fell close by and they wouldn’t have to chase it for miles,” said Dr. Crouch. Some women took to doing such shows out of choice and others did them to make a living. After her husband’s death, Sophie Blanchard took to professional ballooning and became a favorite entertaining aeronaut.

An illustrator shows a passenger balloon flight headed to the moon! Chromolithograph, English, 19th century. National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Swedish meteorologist Salomon August Andree, Knut Fraenkel, and Nils Strindberg headed for the North Pole on 11 July 1897, on the Eagle balloon. NASM, Smithsonian

In another part of the museum, there is a permanent collection of artifacts, models, artwork, and memorabilia, belonging to the modern ballooning and airship era and an “Airship Corner” is in the works. The two locations of the National Air and Space Museum, in DC and in Virginia, get 9.8 million visitors every year, making it the most-visited In 18th century, an illustrator offered a method Dr. Tom Crouch (Left), and Sitara Maruf. Dr museum in America. to navigate the balloon. National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Crouch, an award-winning aeronautical For additional information please visit: Institution historian is senior curator of aeronautics at the https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/clouds-bag National Air and Space Museum. 14/20

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6) Leak Causes Scientific Balloon and Space Observatory ultra-high energy cosmic rays from beyond our galaxy as they penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. Payload to Sink in Pacific Ocean by Sitara Maruf, 13th May 2017

A leak in a stadium-sized scientific balloon Launched on 25th April from Wanaka Airport, forced NASA flight controllers to bring it down New Zealand, the 18.8-million-cubic-foot in the South Pacific Ocean on May 6th. The (532,000-cubic-meter) balloon was carrying super-pressure balloon (SPB) and its space 5,500 pounds (2,495 kilograms) of equipment — observatory payload, worth several million the International Extreme Universe Space dollars, have sunk to the bottom of the Pacific, Observatory (EUSO-SPB) payload. It was about 321km south of Easter Island, with no expected to stay aloft in the stratosphere for 100 chance of recovery. days to test the SPB technology and detect

The super pressure balloon lifts off with the space observatory payload on April 25th.

The balloon was designed to float at a stable altitude of about 33.2 km (109,000 feet) for long durations despite the heating and cooling of the day/night cycle, but a leak in the balloon was confirmed on the third day of flight. The aircraft started experiencing significant altitude drops at night when the temperature dropped, regaining its predicted altitude during the day as the temperature rose. NASA’s Super Pressure Balloon inflated and ready for lift-off from Wanaka Airport, New Zealand Flight controllers at NASA’s Columbia on April 25, 2017 Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, Photo: NASA/Bill Rodman 15/20

Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017 conducted a controlled flight termination of the payload after it impacted the ocean. balloon, on the 12th day of flight, causing it to descend from suborbital space, in three-and-a- NASA conducted an environmental analysis of half hours, before splashing it in the ocean. an open-ocean landing before beginning its mid- latitude SPB flight program in 2015. The open- To manage altitude loss, flight controllers had ocean flight termination procedure makes use of dropped ballast during cold storms, which can the two-ton flight payload as an anchor to pull see atmospheric temperatures at -50 degrees and the entire balloon flight train to the bottom of the below. In the 11th day of flight, the team was left ocean as quickly as possible. In this way, the with just 74 pounds of ballast, and the balloon balloon does not remain in the primary water was still 2,000 miles away from South America. column zone where most marine species are known to live, minimizing environmental Facing a poor weather forecast that would lead impacts. to even lower altitudes with little ballast remaining, NASA preemptively ended the flight NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to ensure the greatest level of control and safety manages the agency’s scientific balloon flight during descent. program with 10 to 15 flights each year from launch sites worldwide. Orbital ATK, which “It’s unfortunate that our flight has come to an operates NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon end at this point—our goal was at least two Facility in Palestine, Texas, provides mission weeks and our hope was for many more weeks planning, engineering services and field beyond that,” said Debbie Fairbrother, NASA’s operations for NASA’s scientific balloon Balloon Program Office chief. “We were able to program. The CSBF team has launched more collect a great amount of flight data, however, than 1,700 scientific balloons in the past 35 years which we’ll analyze in the coming weeks and of operation. months to see if we can determine a cause for the leak. We’ll apply lessons learned to future flights Adapted in part by Sitara Maruf The balloon carried the International Extreme as we continue to develop this technology.” Source: NASA Universe Space Observatory payload “Our flight was cut short, but we are confident that the super-pressure balloon approach to 7) Fifty Years of Balloon-Borne Ozone Research observing the most energetic cosmic particles by Sitara Maruf, 2nd May 2017 will pioneer a new understanding of these extreme phenomena,” said Angela V. Olinto, professor at the University of and principal investigator (PI) of the project. “The international EUSO Collaboration is deeply thankful for the support, expertise, and dedication of NASA to this historic opportunity to open a new window onto the universe.”

“EUSO-SPB performed well, and more than 60 GB of data was downloaded to ground,” said, Lawrence Wiencke, professor at the Colorado School of Mines and deputy PI for the EUSO- SPB flight. “We are looking forward to analyzing the data and to another super-pressure balloon flight with NASA.”

Astrophysicists did not receive any communication from the balloon and the 16/20

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scientists with the British Antarctic Survey Dobson spectrophotometer – was a ground- announced that they had discovered a huge hole based device that measures the total amount of in the ozone layer over Antarctica. The largest ozone in a column of the atmosphere above it, ozone hole area recorded to date was on but not how it is distributed. Like the Dobson September 9, 2000, at 11.5 million square miles spectrophotometer, early satellites could not (29.9 million square kilometers). resolve the distribution of ozone in the atmosphere. But the ozonesonde does. Scientist Sam Oltmans’ first assignment was ozone research, when he started with ESSA in An ozonesonde takes continuous readings from In 1967, scientists launched a weather balloon Boulder in 1969. the ground to as high as the balloon can float from Marshall Mesa, in Colorado. The balloon before it pops – at about 130,000 feet altitude – carried a new instrument that could measure “At the time, we had very limited measurements producing a high-resolution, vertical record of ozone levels from the ground to the edge of outer of ozone in the atmosphere,” said Oltmans, a ozone readings. This level of detail – and space — and radio the data back to a ground retired NOAA Global Monitoring Division NOAA’s lengthy South Pole ozone data record – receiver. The instrument was an early version of scientist who continues to work with the agency. was critical for identifying the lower today’s ozonesonde. This modest research “We were just trying to get a basic understanding stratosphere as the region where chlorine atoms project was undertaken out of curiosity to learn of what stratospheric ozone was like. No one from chlorofluorocarbons, cold temperatures about the distribution of ozone– a trace gas that had the foggiest idea about stratospheric ozone around the poles, and sunlight combined to depletion.” destroy the ozone layer. “Without balloon measurements, diagnosing the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible,” said Chemical Sciences Division Director David Fahey, who co-chairs the scientific assessment panel for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Today, scientists still use ozonesondes to validate and correct satellite data.

Ozonesondes are also widely used to study ground-level ozone pollution, which forms when sunlight bakes emissions from industrial and transportation sources.

NOAA’s ozonesonde now the world’s The Antarctica ozone hole was 9.3 million square miles (24.1 million square kilometers), in workhorse September 2013 and 2014. Photo credit: NOAA NOAA’s Walter Komhyr, who built the first blocks the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays in the Clues to the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole prototypes used in the initial research project, stratosphere and protects us. When the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole later patented a design that pumps air into a small The project was started by the federal galvanized the international scientific sensor that measures ozone levels via an Environmental Science Services Agency community in the 1980s, ozonesonde electrochemical reaction. Over time, the ECC (ESSA) which later became the National measurements taken by NOAA in Boulder and ozonesonde became the standard instrument for Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the South Pole were essential for scientists to investigating the protective stratospheric ozone (NOAA). The balloon-borne ozonesonde helped make sense of observations from satellites, layer as well as for measuring harmful ozone NOAA develop knowledge and expertise that which could gather ozone readings from across pollution close to the ground. Three different enabled them to learn that ozone was depleting large areas. companies have been licensed to manufacture and the ozone layer above Antarctica had been the ozonesonde. Close to 100,000 have been particularly impacted by pollution. In May 1985, The first instrument to measure ozone – the made so far. 17/20

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The knowledge gained from the government’s early ozone studies and the lengthy data set that it produced is a good example of why fundamental scientific research is so important,” said James Butler, director of NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division.

“High-quality, scientifically driven, long-term records from measurement systems like these allow us to identify and understand changes in the Earth system,” Butler said. “This is true whether you’re talking about ozone depletion, pollutant transport, or climate change.”

Adapted in part by Sitara Maruf Source: NOAA

About hundred hot air balloon pilots are getting CIRES scientist Patrick Cullis releases an ozone research balloon on the 50th anniversary of ozone ready for a mass crossing of the English Channel research at Marshall Mesa south of Boulder. Credit: Theo Stein/NOAA this Friday, if the weather cooperates. NOAA’s Walter Komhyr, who built the first investigating the protective stratospheric ozone prototypes used in the initial research project, layer as well as for measuring harmful ozone Datum RPO, who are backing the project and will lead the fleet, have updated the status from later patented a design that pumps air into a small pollution close to the ground. Three different “standby” (since March 5th) to an “Amber sensor that measures ozone levels via an companies have been licensed to manufacture Alert” for Friday morning, March 17th. electrochemical reaction. Over time, the ECC the ozonesonde. Close to 100,000 have been ozonesonde became the standard instrument for made so far. The 100-strong fleet of hot air balloons will take off from Dover, rising above the iconic white 8) Balloon Fleet for English Channel Crossing on Amber Alert cliffs to catch the onwards breeze to France. During their journey across, balloon pilots will by Sitara Maruf, 15th March 2017 be navigating under a major flight path to and from mainland Europe. The English Channel is also the busiest shipping lane in the world.

Organized by leading aerial marketing specialist Exclusive Ballooning, this mass crossing is set for a Guinness World Record, and will smash the existing world record set in 2011, which had 49 balloons fly across the channel.

Andrew Holly, Operations Director for Exclusive Ballooning, who floated into the Guinness World Records recently, for another feat—the first to successfully fly a hot-air balloon in all 50 U.S states—will also take part. He says, “I’m always asked about my favorite

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Issue No. 6 Spring 2017 Mar-May 2017 flights, having flown for 20 years all over the 9) Weather Not Favorable for March17th Launch; Balloon world. Without doubt, the channel crossing flight in 2011 is my number one and the Fleet on “Standby” Again! opportunity to repeat this was just too tempting. by Sitara Maruf, 16th March 2017 We’re delighted to be able to share this experience with so many other friends and Organizers of “The Datum RPO World Record Whilst the wind direction is perfect and the balloonists and also give the opportunity to those Cross Channel Flight,” which has one hundred upper winds are perfect, the surface wind speeds new younger pilots who were not eligible to take balloon pilots taking part to cross the English are forecast to remain just too high. part in 2011. We are delighted to announce that Channel, have postponed the launch that was The met [meteorologist’s] office have been we now have over 100 balloons participating in scheduled for Friday, March 17th. giving us very detailed weather and they think The Datum RPO World Record Cross Channel gusting tomorrow at 6 a.m. is still around 13 Flight.” knots but could be as high as 19 knots.

Whilst a very breezy take off may suit some people, this is a team experience for 100 balloons and we must respect everyone and on this Surface wind speeds that could go as high as 19 occasion, we must be patient and wait for the knots at launch time would not be conducive to right day. a take-off by 100 balloonists, according to the official website: We are looking for a weather slot where everybody can enjoy the flight of a lifetime and www.ballooncrosschannel.com with the high winds, we do not feel that tomorrow will achieve that. “Sadly we have to stand down our planned flight James Strickland, Group Director at Datum RPO for tomorrow, Friday March 17th. We revert to STANDBY mode and will monitor says, “Having flown balloons all over the world, for the next weather slot.” taking part in cross-channel flight in 2011, I can 10) Balloon Fleet for Channel Crossing on “GREEN” for honestly say there is nothing quite like it, it was truly amazing. April 7th

Crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping by Sitara Maruf, 6th April 2017 lanes, in a hot air balloon is a unique and amazing experience, especially in an immersion suit. This event brings out the adventurer in me and I’m looking forward to this intrepid experience again.”

The event will raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The first aerial crossing of the English Channel by a balloon took place on January 7, 1785, when the courageous and skilled French ballooning pioneer, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and his American sponsor, Dr. John Jeffries flew from Dover, England to Calais, France. The pair had flown in a hydrogen filled balloon.

Top image: James Strickland (left), Group Director at Datum RPO and Ashley Moore (Right)

Photo Courtesy: Exclusive Ballooning 19/20

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experience with so many other friends and balloonists and also give the opportunity to those new younger pilots who were not eligible to take part in 2011. We are delighted to announce that we now have over 100 balloons participating in The Datum RPO World Record Cross Channel About hundred hot air balloon pilots are getting Flight.” ready for a mass crossing of the English Channel this Friday, April 7th, if the weather James Strickland, Group Director at Datum RPO cooperates.Datum RPO, who are backing the says, “Having flown balloons all over the world, project and will lead the fleet, have updated the taking part in cross-channel flight in2011, I can status from “Amber Alert” to “Green” for honestly say there is nothing quite like it, it was Friday morning, April 7th. truly amazing.

The 100-strong fleet of hot air balloons will take Crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping off from Dover, rising above the iconic white lanes, in a hot air balloon is a unique and cliffs to catch the onwards breeze to France. amazing experience, especially in an immersion During their journey across, balloon pilots will suit. This event brings out the adventurer in me be navigating under a major flight path to and and I’m looking forward to this intrepid from mainland Europe. The English Channel is experience again.” also the busiest shipping lane in the world.

Organized by leading aerial marketing specialist James Strickland (left), Group Director at Exclusive Ballooning, this mass crossing is set Datum RPO and Ashley Moore (Right) Photo for a Guinness World Record, and will smash the Courtesy: Exclusive Ballooning existing world record set in 2011, which had 49 The event will raise thousands of pounds for balloons fly across the channel. charity. Andrew Holly, Operations Director for The first aerial crossing of the English Channel Exclusive Ballooning, who floated into the by a balloon took place on January 7, 1785, when Guinness World Records recently, for another the courageous and skilled French ballooning feat—the first to successfully fly a hot-air pioneer, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and his balloon in all 50 U.S states—will also take part. American sponsor, Dr. John Jeffries flew from He says, “I’m always asked about my favorite Dover, England to Calais, France. The pair had flights, having flown for 20 years all over the flown in a hydrogen filled balloon. world. Without doubt, the channel crossing flight in 2011 is my number one and the opportunity to repeat this was just too tempting. We’re delighted to be able to share this 20/20

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