III C 1. General Work Accomplished
A conference was held on May 1 at Minneapolis with Mr. O. C. Winzen of General Mills concerning the manufacture of balloons by General Mills for this project. At the present time this company cannot supply us with balloons until Navy clearance is obtained, but it is hoped that arrangements can be completed in the near future. The type of balloons manufactured by General Mills seems to be well suited to the needs of this project.
On May 8 a trip was made to Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., to fly a cluster of meteorological balloons carrying Watson Laboratories equipment. Winds developed during launching and the balloons escaped when the restraining lines snapped under the strain, carrying balloons aloft without payload.
As a result of this incident, two conclusions were drawn: first, that a new launching technique was needed; second, that another launching site must be selected offering consistently calm winds during launching. It was decided to make the next flights at Alamogordo, New Mexico, early in June.
On May 14 a conference was held at the Vulcan Proofing Co., in Brooklyn, N.Y. to discuss the possibility of this company testing various types of fabric and film used in the manufacture of balloons. It was agreed that the company would make the desired tests when ordered by us.
The high point of the month's activities was the departure for Alamogordo on May 31, and the balance of the month was spent in the preparation of equipment for the flights to be made there. Departure was made from Olmstead Field, Middletown, Pa. in a C-47 furnished by the Watson Laboratories.
2. Specific Problems
In general, problems remain the same as those discussed in the previous report, namely: the determination of the relative merits of various balloon films and fabrics available; the analysis of the altitude control devices to be used; and the flight testing of the equipment to be used in preliminary work. All of these problems now await further flights and delivery of equipment ordered before solution can be attempted.
3. Limitations
The greatest hindering factor in the progress of work is the lack of available space. The prefabricated building to be furnished by the government under the terms of the contract is now more urgently
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