Mr. Haddock's Narrative of His Hazardous and Exciting Voyage in the Balloon "Atlantic", with Prof. Jno. LaMountain

John A. Haddock

Description

In the 21st century - the age of the budget airline - where quick and reliable air travel is available to a large segment of society, it seems hard to comprehend that it is less than 250 years since the first human took to the skies.
Although the wing of the bird seemed like the most obvious natural mechanism to attempt replicate, it was actually contained hot air, as demonstrated by the Montgolfiers and their balloon, that gave birth to the era human aviation. Since the first manned balloon flight in 1783, developments have come thick and fast, the airship, the aeroplane, and finally the space shuttle.
This reprint of a classic publication by John A. Haddock, from 1872, details an eventful balloon ascent made by the author. The following is an except from the preface:
'Within the past two or three years I have often been requested to re-publish my account of that celebrated trip, and have at last consented to do so, in order to afford my friends and the public an opportunity of perusing it, and to enable them to comprehend how a man apparently sensible as regards business affairs and every-day life, may sometimes do a foolish thing that will seriously affect his business prospects, and cause great and unnecessary distress to his friends. For now, as I look back upon the events I am about to relate, I can but regard my balloon voyage as almost impiously hazardous and foolish, and meriting censure rather than commendation.'

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 22 mars 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528766050
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

MR. HADDOCK S NARRATIVE
OF HIS
HAZARDOUS AND EXCITING
VOYAGE
IN THE
B ALLOON A TLANTIC ,
WITH
PROF. JNO. La MOUNTAIN.

CAREFULLY REVISED, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY SCATTEGOOOD.

1872.
Copyright 2013 Read Books Ltd.
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
The Early History of Flight
In the 21st century-the age of the budget airline-where quick and reliable air travel is available to a large segment of society, it seems hard to comprehend that it is less than 250 years since the first human took to the skies. Throughout history, our species has viewed the birds with wonder, envy, and an irresistible urge for the freedom they posses. Many tried to attain that freedom, and many failed. From the legends of Icarus to the sketches of Leonardo da Vinci, great minds have occupied themselves with replicating the feathered wing-their designs running parallel to the images of heavenly angels in the arts. The principle of creating lift with a wing was of course sound, but it had to wait for the science of the twentieth century to become practical. Until then, a different line of enquiry had to be followed. This spawned the lighter-than-air period of aviation.
The concept of heated air being used to generate lift goes back as far as third century C.E. China when Kongming lanterns were used to send messages. It was only in the eighteenth century however, with the innovations of a couple of French paper-makers, the Montgolfier brothers, that the principle was utilised as a means of transport. It was in their balloon, on 21st November 1783, that Pil tre de Rozier and the Marquis d Arlandes became the first humans to join the birds and traverse the skies. This ascent was soon followed by that of Charles and Robert in the first hydrogen balloon. The seed had been sown and many others took up the gauntlet to set new records, make scientific observations, and entertain the masses.
In this early-industrial age, the excitement for new technology was immense, and thousands of people would gather and pay to watch these aeronauts ascend. The public appetite for all things balloon related led to the coining of the term Balloonomania , and the enthusiasm for seeing these aviators lift off in their majestic craft is comparable to that of the dawn of the space age in the mid-twentieth century.
As with all forays into the unknown, ballooning took its toll. Several pioneers lost their lives and many more came close. Over the years however, science, and the designs of the balloons became better understood, and although the frontiers of ballooning remain a risky endeavour, many people all over the world now enjoy ballooning as a pastime.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a new technology took to the air that would revolutionise aeronautics. When the Wright Flyer , designed by Orville and Wilbur Wright, made its maiden flight in 1903, travelling a distance of 120 feet, it set the tone for the future of aviation. Aeroplanes soon became the prominent force in air travel, developing both commercial and military applications very early on in their existence.
A world without flight now seems hard to imagine and I hope the reader is intrigued to find out more about the exciting and fascinating subject of aviation history.

CONTENTS
Explanatory