TABLE VII
SUMMARY OF NYU CONSTANT-LEVEL BALLOON FLIGHTS
FLIGHT NUMBER
DATE AND TIME LAUNCHED
LAUNCHING SITE
DESCRIPTION OF BALLOON
BALLOON WEIGHT (INCLUDING BALLAST)
DESCRIPTION OF ALTITUDE CONTROL
BALLAST WEIGHT
FREE LIFT
BALLOON LIFT
RADIOSONDE RECEPTION
TRACKING
PERCENT OF BALLOON LIFT USED
FLIGHT DURATION
OPTIMUM C-135/137
MAXIMUM & CONSTANT LEVELS MSL
RECOVERY & LAND-ING SITE
COMMENTS
11
7 July 1947 0508 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
7 - General Mills 1 - 15" .008" Poly-ethylene 6 - 7" .001" Poly-ethylene in helium cluster below 15 balloon
17.1 kg
74.5 mc Radiosonde Ballast assembly
15.9 kg
3 kg
27.2 kg
97% with recorder
Theodo-lite 384
100% C-54
550 min.
423 min. ± 1500'
Max. 16800' Const. 16000'
0%
Balloons used in cluster to obtain higher altitudes. One high burst at launching. Small balloons deflated. Therefore cluster did not rise high enough to achieve altitude control. Dribbler leak and balloon diffusion both 300 gm/hr. Therefore balloon remained at ceiling until ballast was expended.
12
5 Aug. 1947 0714 MST
Lakehurst New Jersey
1 - General Mills - 20" .001 Poly-ethylene
4.1 kg
3 mc trans-mitter 39.7 mc Radiosonde 72.2 mc Radiosonde Ballast assembly
28.0 kg
5 kg
31.8 kg
100% Hillman
Theodo-lite 15X SCR-458 80%
85%
407 min.
60 min. ± 400'
Max. 14100'
95% Bayama, Dela-were 85 mi.
First flight with large this balloon. Open appendix caused helium dilution with air-cover over appendix thought to have caused balloon rupture, terminating flight early and low. Flight not successful as balloon test or altitude control test.
13
5 Sept. 1947 0647 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
2 General Mills 20" .001 Poly-ethylene 10" appendix outside shroud lines
8.4 kg
397 mc Radiosonde Data gear Ballast release
24.2 kg
10.0 kg
28.0 kg
100%
Theodo-lite 100% SCR-458 100%
Not required Burst over desert
58 min.
None (burst)
Max. 4760'
0% White Sands, N. M.
Appendices twisted around shroud lines, preventing valving of gas at pressure altitude. Both balloons burst within 2 minutes and gas fell free to desert. Recovery not attempted.
14
6 Sept. 1947 0813 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 General Mills 20" .001 Poly-ethylene 10" appendix outside shroud lines
4.0 kg
397 mc Radiosonde Banner, Ballast release
15.1 kg
5.0 kg
17.3 kg
100%
Theodo-lite 100% SCR-458 100%
Last (L-5)
55 min.
None (burst)
Max. 49000'
100% 6 mi. north of Alamogordo AAF
Appendix again twisted around shroud lines, preventing valving of gas at pressure altitude, where balloon burst. Descent retarded by banner.
15
6 Sept. 1947 1153 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 General Mills 20" .001 Poly-ethylene 10" appendix outside shroud lines
4.0 kg
397 mc Radiosonde Banner, Ballast release
15.1 kg
5.0 kg
17.7 kg
364 min.
Theodo-lite 175 min. SCR-458 364 min.
Not required than 364 min. data not required
More than 364 min.
71 min. ± 900'
Max. 45800' Const. 34000'
0%
First flight with large G. M. balloon which did not burst due to appendix. Believes holes in balloon due to high wind at launching caused slow descent after pressure height was reached. Shows need of short appendix and automatic ballast valve.
16
8 Sept. 1947 0828 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 General Mills 20" .001 Poly-ethylene 2" appendix outside shroud lines
4.4 kg
397 mc Radiosonde Data gear Banner Ballast release
16.1 kg
3.2 kg
18.5 kg
100%
Theodo-lite 100% SCR-458 100%
Not required A/C used to search for gear
50 min.
None (burst)
Max. 31700'
0% 6 miles NE Alamogordo AAF
Heavily loaded balloon with too much free lift (inflated by volume estimate in wind). High oscillations observed after release. Balloon burst due to blowing off top well below pressure altitude. Balloon came down with free falling gear but was not found.
17
9 Sept. 1947 1647 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 H. A. Smith 15" .004" Poly-ethylene with 18 lead points
6.4 kg
397 mc Radiosonde Banner Ballast release
11.3 kg
4.0 kg
13.4 kg
281 min.
281 min.
Not required night flight
anti-mated 10 hrs.
181 min. ± 500'
Max. 29700' Const. 29100'
Croft, Kansas 555 miles
Successful controlled altitude flight demonstrating altitude controls maintaining height through a sunset. Balloon descended near Croft, Kansas long after passing out of Roswell's reception range. Need for a barograph shown.