The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert

inflation has been available.

The 20-foot General Mills balloons are inflated through a tube in such a fashion that the gas collects in a bubble at the top of the balloon. The tube is inserted by the manufacturer and is shown in Figure 5. If this bubble is restricted, the wind cannot catch and make a sail of it. (See figure 25 for the sail effect.) The actual technique of inflation is as follows:

In actual inflation the balloon is spread out on a ground cloth which covers the launching table and a balance. The balloon is arranged so the upper 18 feet projects beyond the balance. Two heavy (80#) elliptical shot bags (see Figure 26) are covered with polyethylene and placed on top of the balloon on either side of the inflation tube. The platform is then made to balance. The lower end of the balloon is weighed and then stretched out again down wind, held down with sand bags and polyethylene strips. A weight equal to the weight of the lower half of the balloon, plus the equipment weight and the desired free lift is placed on the balance. Inflation is started, taking care to get all twists out of the inflation tube before allowing full gas flow. When the balance beam falls, inflation is complete (care must be exercised to guard against underinflation due to wind moving the balloon on the balance). The inflation tube is carefully removed, and the helium truck is moved clear. All personnel are now positioned for release.

## B. Release

During the early portion of the experimental period, flights of meteorological balloons in clusters were launched. The first flights were made with balloons hitched one above another along a single strong load line.