roswell

The effect of this cooling is evidenced in the lifting
power or the gas. When a rapidly filled balloon is launched
immediately after inflation, it has less lift than de-
sired and may even be "heavy" rather than buoyant. 20°C
cooling will make balloon 1% heavier. This may be 25%
of free lift. In the inflation of the 70-foot balloons
where more gas is used, and the cooling effec-t is more
often harmful, a heating unit is added to the inflation
equipment. The gas passes from the manifold through a
coil which is centrally wa~ed by a blow torch and on into
the inflation tube. The gas should arrive in balloon no
more than 20°C cooler than the air.
VI. BALLOON LAUNCHING
When the balloon infle.tion is complete, the inflatio:r;1 tube
is removed from the balloon as gently as possible. There
is apt to be constriction at the point where the bubble is
formed by the launching arms or the shot bags. If the tube
does stick at this point, great care must be given to freeing
without ripping the ball.oon.
Should the balloon be torn in this or any other manner, it
may be possible to patch the fabric and salvage the flight.
The acetate-fiber scotch tape, used to attach the batten is
used for patching. Transverse tapes are laid across the tear
and the entire region is covered with a matting of tape.
When the inflation tube is freed and the restrained bubble
is ready for launching, the lower portion or it is laid out
down wind, as is all of the gear on the load line. The in-
flation is generally done in the lee or the hangar or "Y"-
shaped wind screen (see Figures 28 and 29) with the bubble
as close to the wall as possible. It is imperative that the
wind direction be noted prior to launching and that the equip-
ment be directly downwind from the head of the bubble. It is
strongly recommended that a standard meteorological rubber
balloon be inflated and tethered on a 150-foot line near the
point of release to serve as a wind indicator. This balloon
is much more effective than a standard wind vane.
All pieces of equipment and all on-lookers must be removed
from the immediate vicinity to prev6nt accidental entanglement
of the load line when the balloon begins to rise. Each piece
of delicate gear to be carried aloft should be cradled by
one man. As a signal given by the flignt director (after
checking to see everyone is ready and that the balloon will
go in the desired direction), the bubble is released (see
Figure 30). If "launching arms" are used, this is not
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