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D. Accessory Flight Equipment
On most flights, three pieces of equipment are added
to the train for special purposes. These are: (l) a
banner, (2) a drag parachute, and (3) safety-weights.
The banner is a red or yellow cheesecloth rectangle,
3 x 6 or 6 x 12 feet, with aluminum spreaders at top
and bottom. Shown in Figure 15, the banner is tied
taut to the load line, and serves to reduce sidewise
swaying as the balloon ri,es. Due to the bright color,
it is useful in locating the balloon after being grounded
and acts as a warning to air craft during descent and
ascent. If thodolite stadia determinations are being
made, the banner can be used as one of the ch~k points
on the train.
The drag parachute is inserted into the train above the
banner in inverted position and serves to retard the
ascending balloon somewhat, thus reducing the probability
of bursting due to excessive rates of rise.
To correct a too slow rate of rise, (which may result
from under inflation due to gage errors, freezing of
valves, or excessive adiabatic cooling of the gas during
inflation) two small bags of sand or shot are added to
the bottom of the restraining line. If it appears that
the balloon is not rising with the desired velocity as
it picks up the equipment, one or both of these safety
weights are cut free. The weight of each bag is equal
to the desired free lift, so that if the computed free
lift is not available, this lift may be supplied. Prior
to the adoption of this practice, it was necessary to sacri-
fice equipment or the balloon in such oases.
E. Tracking and Recording Instruments
Depending upon the nature of the flight, the weather condi-
tions, and the equipment available. gear may be added to
the flight train to aid in horizontal position determination
and altitude measurement. The discussion of suitable
equipment for such work is given in Section VII• In general,
the equipment added may be either radio transmitters or
gear of other assorted types. Each unit is rigged sep-
arately, with hooks at each end of the line segment.
Prior to the inflation of the balloon a thorough check
of all such equipment, especially radio gear, is made.
It is necessary to have spare equipment tested, calibrated,
and assembled for last minute replacement if failure is
detected at this time.
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