Sunday, April 26, 2009

Balloon Race

This picture was taken in 1908, and shows the start of a balloon race in Berlin, Germany. Pictured is that American entry, the "Conqueror". I don't see any burners, so the balloons are probably lighter than air gas balloons. Gas balloons were popular earlier than hot air balloons.
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8 comments:

  1. Well, I wasn't sure if I should post this here or on yesterday's photo, but this seemed more appropriate.
    The first US president to ride in an aircraft was - Geoge Washington! The Montgolfier Brothers had the first public trial of their hot air balloon in June, 1783. Washington took a ride in a balloon shortly after he left office in 1799.

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  3. Lady Anne.

    I wondered what the answer was
    to the question you posed
    yesterday.
    I certainly wasn't thinking of
    Geoge Washington.
    And today PJM posts a photo of
    a hot air ballon. Strange.

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  4. I would guess it is a hot air balloon because it is open at the bottom. I think the gas balloons were sealed.

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  5. Actually, you are not looking at the bottom, just the cables going around the balloon. The drapery like tail is the closed part of it. In the background, the round ones are definitely gas.

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  6. I am not afraid of heights and I am not afraid of flying. But I would never get into a hot air balloon. I think that is a strange phobia.

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  7. Sheila.

    I don't think that's such a strange
    phobia.
    You're not fully enclosed and not
    technically flying...floating.
    Evoking lack of control.
    It would also be virtually
    silent.

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  8. I thought there must have been a twist. Tricky, Lady Anne.

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