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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0237.PDF
MAY 3, 1923 STARTING GLIDERS FROM KITE BALLOONS A Novel German Scheme the difficulties which restrict the wider adoption of gliding as a sport, not the least is formed by the necessity of a sufficiently high range of hills from which to make the start. Thus, in the case of London, the nearest range of hills is probably that at Itford, near Lewes, on the South Downs. There is little doubt that if facilities were available in the vicinity of London, many more would take up gliding as a sport. For instance, suppose that along one side of the Croydon aerodrome a range of hills existed, which rendered possible gliding and soaring on most days of the year. It is although the machine was crashed. The experiment had, however, served to show in some measure the feasibility of launching a glider from a kite balloon, and Herr Oppermann has since been working on improvements in the starting arrangements. Herr Oppermann's idea is shown, more or less diagram- matically, in the accompanying drawings. Suspended under- neath the envelope of an ordinary kite balloon, and more or less taking the place of the curved scoop which runs around the tail of a Parseval type of kite balloon, is a light framework of LAUNCHING A GLIDER FROM A KITE BALLOON : The upper diagram shows the balloon anchored to posts driven into the ground, ready to receive the glider. In the centre the balloon is shown with frame- work folded, ready for storing in a hangar. Below is shown a section of the double rails, with roller carried on a bracket on top of the glider. scarcely to be doubted that in that case many amateurs would keep their gliders in the sheds at the aerodrome, and use every available opportunity to get in a bit of practice in gliding and soaring. Realising that this necessity for a hill has hitherto been one of the main obstacles to the introduction of gliding as a sport, a Germany inventor, Herr Erich Oppermann, of Hanover, has conceived the idea of utilising a kite balloon for starting the glider. In fact, the experiment has already been made in Switzerland by Herr Klemperer, who was hoisted up to an altitude of some 2,000 ft. under a kite balloon, and then released his glider with the intention of planing down to earth. Owing to the primitive nature of the apparatus securing the glider to the balloon, and of the release mechanism employed, the start was not a success, and the machine got into a spin, from which Herr Klemperer could not extricate it, probably owing to the jamming of the controls after contact with some part of the balloon gear. Fortunately Herr Klemperer escaped with minor bruises, LAUNCHING A GLIDER FROM A KITE BALLOON :This diagram shows the glider clear of the inclined rails. wood or metal, the side walls of which are enclosed in fabric. Below this framework are transverse outriggers, connected to the envelope and to the framework by cables and struts. These outriggers serve for the attachment of the balloon cables, their object, of course, being to get the cables out away from the vicinity of the wing tips of the glider. Carried underneath the outriggers, just inside the side curtains of the main framework, are two double rails which serve to guide the glider at the start. The glider is provided with brackets carrying rollers or wheels running between the upper and lower rails. The object of the double rails is to hold the glider down should a gust strike it as it is being launched. The rails are mounted at such an angle in relation to the balloon envelope that it forms a fairly steep angle, sloping down forward. The points of attachment, length of cables, etc., are so chosen as to give the right amount of slope. Owing to the " bag " formed by the lower part of the balloon envelope and the side curtains, assisted if neces- sary by the usual kite tail, the balloon will remain nose to the wind, and thus the glider may be released at any moment, being, like the balloon, always facing the wind. A quick release will be provided, so that the pilot can " cut loose " at any moment. Under the action of gravity the glider will .237 C 2
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