EARLY DIRIGIBLESMeusnier the Pioneer.The fact that the invention of the dirigible balloon and means of navigating it were almost simultaneous is very little known today and much less appreciated. Like the aeroplane, its development was very much retarded by the lack of suitable means of propulsion, and the actual history of what has been accomplished in this field dates back only to the initial circular flight of La France in 1885. Still the principles upon which success has been achieved were laid down within a year of the appearance of Montgolfier’s first gas bag. Lieutenant Meusnier, who subsequently became a general in the French army, must really be credited with being the true inventor of aerial navigation. At a time when nothing whatever was known of the science, Meusnier had the distinction of elaborating at one stroke all the laws governing the stability of an airship, and calculating correctly the conditions of equilibrium for an elongated balloon, after having strikingly demonstrated the necessity for this elongation. This was in 1781 and Meusnier’s designs and calculations are still preserved in the engineering section of the French War Office in the form of drawings and tables.But as often proved to be the case in other fields of research, his efforts went unheeded. How marvelous the establishment of these numerous principles by one man in a short time really is, can be appreciated only by noting the painfully slow process that has been necessary to again determine them, one by one, at considerable intervals and after numerous failures. Through not following the lines which he laid down, aerial navigation lost a century in futile groping about; in experiments absolutely without method or sequence.Fig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonFig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonMeusnier’s designs covered two dirigible balloons and that he fully appreciated the necessity for size is shown by the dimensions of the larger, which unfortunately was never built. This was to be 260 feet long by 130 feet in diameter, in the form of an ellipse, the elongation being exactly twice the diameter. In other words, a perfect ellipsoid, which was a logical and, in fact, the most perfect development of the spherical form. Although increased knowledge of wind resistance and the importance of the part it plays has proved his relative dimensions to be faulty, a study of the principal features of his machine shows that he anticipated the present-day dirigible of the most successful type at practically every point, barring, of course, the motive power, as there was absolutely nothing available in that day except human effort. As the latter weighs more than one-half ton per horse-power, it goes without saying that Meusnier’s balloon would have been dirigible only in a dead calm.He adopted the elongated form, conceived the girth fastening, the triangular or indeformable suspension, the air balloonet and its pumps, and the screw propeller, all of which are to be found in the dirigibles of present-day French construction, Fig. 5. It need scarcely be added that the French have not only devoted a greater amount of time and effort to the development of the dirigible than any other nation, but have also met with the greatest success in its use. It was not until 1886, or more than a century after Meusnier had first elaborated those principles, that their value became known. They were set forth by Lieutenant Letourne, of the French engineers, in a paper presented to theAcademie des Sciencesby General Perrier.In one form or another, the salient features of Meusnier’s dirigible will be found embodied in the majority of attempts of later days. His large airship was designed to consist of double envelope, the outer container of which was to provide the strength necessary, and it was accordingly reinforced by bands. The inner envelope was to provide the container for the gas and was not called upon to support any weight. This inner bag or balloon proper was designed to be only partially inflated and the space between, the two was to be occupied by air which could be forced into it at two points at either end, by pumps, so as to maintain the pressure on the gas bag uniform regardless of the expansion or contraction of its contents. Here in principle was the air balloonet of today. Instead of employing a net to hang the car from the outer envelope, the former was attached by means of a triangular suspension system fastened to a heavy rope band, or girth, encircling the outer envelope. At the three points where the lifting rope members met, a shaft running the length of the car and carrying what Meusnier described as "revolving oars" was installed. These constituted the prototype of the screw propeller, invented for aerial navigation at a time long antedating the use of steam for marine use. Thus he devised: (1) The air balloonet to husband the gas supply and thus prevent the deformation of the outer container or support, as well as to provide stability; (2) the triangular suspension to attain longitudinal stability; and (3) the screw propeller for propulsion, beside selecting the proper location for the latter.
EARLY DIRIGIBLESMeusnier the Pioneer.The fact that the invention of the dirigible balloon and means of navigating it were almost simultaneous is very little known today and much less appreciated. Like the aeroplane, its development was very much retarded by the lack of suitable means of propulsion, and the actual history of what has been accomplished in this field dates back only to the initial circular flight of La France in 1885. Still the principles upon which success has been achieved were laid down within a year of the appearance of Montgolfier’s first gas bag. Lieutenant Meusnier, who subsequently became a general in the French army, must really be credited with being the true inventor of aerial navigation. At a time when nothing whatever was known of the science, Meusnier had the distinction of elaborating at one stroke all the laws governing the stability of an airship, and calculating correctly the conditions of equilibrium for an elongated balloon, after having strikingly demonstrated the necessity for this elongation. This was in 1781 and Meusnier’s designs and calculations are still preserved in the engineering section of the French War Office in the form of drawings and tables.But as often proved to be the case in other fields of research, his efforts went unheeded. How marvelous the establishment of these numerous principles by one man in a short time really is, can be appreciated only by noting the painfully slow process that has been necessary to again determine them, one by one, at considerable intervals and after numerous failures. Through not following the lines which he laid down, aerial navigation lost a century in futile groping about; in experiments absolutely without method or sequence.Fig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonFig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonMeusnier’s designs covered two dirigible balloons and that he fully appreciated the necessity for size is shown by the dimensions of the larger, which unfortunately was never built. This was to be 260 feet long by 130 feet in diameter, in the form of an ellipse, the elongation being exactly twice the diameter. In other words, a perfect ellipsoid, which was a logical and, in fact, the most perfect development of the spherical form. Although increased knowledge of wind resistance and the importance of the part it plays has proved his relative dimensions to be faulty, a study of the principal features of his machine shows that he anticipated the present-day dirigible of the most successful type at practically every point, barring, of course, the motive power, as there was absolutely nothing available in that day except human effort. As the latter weighs more than one-half ton per horse-power, it goes without saying that Meusnier’s balloon would have been dirigible only in a dead calm.He adopted the elongated form, conceived the girth fastening, the triangular or indeformable suspension, the air balloonet and its pumps, and the screw propeller, all of which are to be found in the dirigibles of present-day French construction, Fig. 5. It need scarcely be added that the French have not only devoted a greater amount of time and effort to the development of the dirigible than any other nation, but have also met with the greatest success in its use. It was not until 1886, or more than a century after Meusnier had first elaborated those principles, that their value became known. They were set forth by Lieutenant Letourne, of the French engineers, in a paper presented to theAcademie des Sciencesby General Perrier.In one form or another, the salient features of Meusnier’s dirigible will be found embodied in the majority of attempts of later days. His large airship was designed to consist of double envelope, the outer container of which was to provide the strength necessary, and it was accordingly reinforced by bands. The inner envelope was to provide the container for the gas and was not called upon to support any weight. This inner bag or balloon proper was designed to be only partially inflated and the space between, the two was to be occupied by air which could be forced into it at two points at either end, by pumps, so as to maintain the pressure on the gas bag uniform regardless of the expansion or contraction of its contents. Here in principle was the air balloonet of today. Instead of employing a net to hang the car from the outer envelope, the former was attached by means of a triangular suspension system fastened to a heavy rope band, or girth, encircling the outer envelope. At the three points where the lifting rope members met, a shaft running the length of the car and carrying what Meusnier described as "revolving oars" was installed. These constituted the prototype of the screw propeller, invented for aerial navigation at a time long antedating the use of steam for marine use. Thus he devised: (1) The air balloonet to husband the gas supply and thus prevent the deformation of the outer container or support, as well as to provide stability; (2) the triangular suspension to attain longitudinal stability; and (3) the screw propeller for propulsion, beside selecting the proper location for the latter.
EARLY DIRIGIBLESMeusnier the Pioneer.The fact that the invention of the dirigible balloon and means of navigating it were almost simultaneous is very little known today and much less appreciated. Like the aeroplane, its development was very much retarded by the lack of suitable means of propulsion, and the actual history of what has been accomplished in this field dates back only to the initial circular flight of La France in 1885. Still the principles upon which success has been achieved were laid down within a year of the appearance of Montgolfier’s first gas bag. Lieutenant Meusnier, who subsequently became a general in the French army, must really be credited with being the true inventor of aerial navigation. At a time when nothing whatever was known of the science, Meusnier had the distinction of elaborating at one stroke all the laws governing the stability of an airship, and calculating correctly the conditions of equilibrium for an elongated balloon, after having strikingly demonstrated the necessity for this elongation. This was in 1781 and Meusnier’s designs and calculations are still preserved in the engineering section of the French War Office in the form of drawings and tables.But as often proved to be the case in other fields of research, his efforts went unheeded. How marvelous the establishment of these numerous principles by one man in a short time really is, can be appreciated only by noting the painfully slow process that has been necessary to again determine them, one by one, at considerable intervals and after numerous failures. Through not following the lines which he laid down, aerial navigation lost a century in futile groping about; in experiments absolutely without method or sequence.Fig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonFig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonMeusnier’s designs covered two dirigible balloons and that he fully appreciated the necessity for size is shown by the dimensions of the larger, which unfortunately was never built. This was to be 260 feet long by 130 feet in diameter, in the form of an ellipse, the elongation being exactly twice the diameter. In other words, a perfect ellipsoid, which was a logical and, in fact, the most perfect development of the spherical form. Although increased knowledge of wind resistance and the importance of the part it plays has proved his relative dimensions to be faulty, a study of the principal features of his machine shows that he anticipated the present-day dirigible of the most successful type at practically every point, barring, of course, the motive power, as there was absolutely nothing available in that day except human effort. As the latter weighs more than one-half ton per horse-power, it goes without saying that Meusnier’s balloon would have been dirigible only in a dead calm.He adopted the elongated form, conceived the girth fastening, the triangular or indeformable suspension, the air balloonet and its pumps, and the screw propeller, all of which are to be found in the dirigibles of present-day French construction, Fig. 5. It need scarcely be added that the French have not only devoted a greater amount of time and effort to the development of the dirigible than any other nation, but have also met with the greatest success in its use. It was not until 1886, or more than a century after Meusnier had first elaborated those principles, that their value became known. They were set forth by Lieutenant Letourne, of the French engineers, in a paper presented to theAcademie des Sciencesby General Perrier.In one form or another, the salient features of Meusnier’s dirigible will be found embodied in the majority of attempts of later days. His large airship was designed to consist of double envelope, the outer container of which was to provide the strength necessary, and it was accordingly reinforced by bands. The inner envelope was to provide the container for the gas and was not called upon to support any weight. This inner bag or balloon proper was designed to be only partially inflated and the space between, the two was to be occupied by air which could be forced into it at two points at either end, by pumps, so as to maintain the pressure on the gas bag uniform regardless of the expansion or contraction of its contents. Here in principle was the air balloonet of today. Instead of employing a net to hang the car from the outer envelope, the former was attached by means of a triangular suspension system fastened to a heavy rope band, or girth, encircling the outer envelope. At the three points where the lifting rope members met, a shaft running the length of the car and carrying what Meusnier described as "revolving oars" was installed. These constituted the prototype of the screw propeller, invented for aerial navigation at a time long antedating the use of steam for marine use. Thus he devised: (1) The air balloonet to husband the gas supply and thus prevent the deformation of the outer container or support, as well as to provide stability; (2) the triangular suspension to attain longitudinal stability; and (3) the screw propeller for propulsion, beside selecting the proper location for the latter.
Meusnier the Pioneer.The fact that the invention of the dirigible balloon and means of navigating it were almost simultaneous is very little known today and much less appreciated. Like the aeroplane, its development was very much retarded by the lack of suitable means of propulsion, and the actual history of what has been accomplished in this field dates back only to the initial circular flight of La France in 1885. Still the principles upon which success has been achieved were laid down within a year of the appearance of Montgolfier’s first gas bag. Lieutenant Meusnier, who subsequently became a general in the French army, must really be credited with being the true inventor of aerial navigation. At a time when nothing whatever was known of the science, Meusnier had the distinction of elaborating at one stroke all the laws governing the stability of an airship, and calculating correctly the conditions of equilibrium for an elongated balloon, after having strikingly demonstrated the necessity for this elongation. This was in 1781 and Meusnier’s designs and calculations are still preserved in the engineering section of the French War Office in the form of drawings and tables.
But as often proved to be the case in other fields of research, his efforts went unheeded. How marvelous the establishment of these numerous principles by one man in a short time really is, can be appreciated only by noting the painfully slow process that has been necessary to again determine them, one by one, at considerable intervals and after numerous failures. Through not following the lines which he laid down, aerial navigation lost a century in futile groping about; in experiments absolutely without method or sequence.
Fig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible BalloonFig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible Balloon
Fig. 5. Meusnier Dirigible Balloon
Meusnier’s designs covered two dirigible balloons and that he fully appreciated the necessity for size is shown by the dimensions of the larger, which unfortunately was never built. This was to be 260 feet long by 130 feet in diameter, in the form of an ellipse, the elongation being exactly twice the diameter. In other words, a perfect ellipsoid, which was a logical and, in fact, the most perfect development of the spherical form. Although increased knowledge of wind resistance and the importance of the part it plays has proved his relative dimensions to be faulty, a study of the principal features of his machine shows that he anticipated the present-day dirigible of the most successful type at practically every point, barring, of course, the motive power, as there was absolutely nothing available in that day except human effort. As the latter weighs more than one-half ton per horse-power, it goes without saying that Meusnier’s balloon would have been dirigible only in a dead calm.
He adopted the elongated form, conceived the girth fastening, the triangular or indeformable suspension, the air balloonet and its pumps, and the screw propeller, all of which are to be found in the dirigibles of present-day French construction, Fig. 5. It need scarcely be added that the French have not only devoted a greater amount of time and effort to the development of the dirigible than any other nation, but have also met with the greatest success in its use. It was not until 1886, or more than a century after Meusnier had first elaborated those principles, that their value became known. They were set forth by Lieutenant Letourne, of the French engineers, in a paper presented to theAcademie des Sciencesby General Perrier.
In one form or another, the salient features of Meusnier’s dirigible will be found embodied in the majority of attempts of later days. His large airship was designed to consist of double envelope, the outer container of which was to provide the strength necessary, and it was accordingly reinforced by bands. The inner envelope was to provide the container for the gas and was not called upon to support any weight. This inner bag or balloon proper was designed to be only partially inflated and the space between, the two was to be occupied by air which could be forced into it at two points at either end, by pumps, so as to maintain the pressure on the gas bag uniform regardless of the expansion or contraction of its contents. Here in principle was the air balloonet of today. Instead of employing a net to hang the car from the outer envelope, the former was attached by means of a triangular suspension system fastened to a heavy rope band, or girth, encircling the outer envelope. At the three points where the lifting rope members met, a shaft running the length of the car and carrying what Meusnier described as "revolving oars" was installed. These constituted the prototype of the screw propeller, invented for aerial navigation at a time long antedating the use of steam for marine use. Thus he devised: (1) The air balloonet to husband the gas supply and thus prevent the deformation of the outer container or support, as well as to provide stability; (2) the triangular suspension to attain longitudinal stability; and (3) the screw propeller for propulsion, beside selecting the proper location for the latter.