Tuesday, April 14, 2009, Major Taylor showed the squadron a video of the history of hot air balloons. It followed the history of hot air balloons from it’s beginnings in France in 1783 to it’s modern day uses.
The hot air balloon was the oldest successful human-carrying flying device. Its first flight was maned by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes in France in 1783. The hot air balloon works because of buoyancy. Buoyancy in simply that the air inside the balloon is warmer than the air outside of the balloon, thus making it less dense than the cooler air and able to float above it. The basic shape of a hot air balloon is the envelope (which holds the hot air) connected to the basket (which hold the passengers, fuel, and burners). The envelope has vents that release hot air and regulate the altitude of the balloon.
The development of the hot air balloon also lead to the invention of blimps. The most famous of which, the Hindenburg, is known for its sudden mid-air explosion. These blimps were commonly used in World War I as bombers, scouts, and patrolers.
One cadet was surprized to find that some hot air balloon envelopes are as strong as steal. He hopes to see the military experimenting with this kind of aircraft.