Ballooning had been carried out both as a
form of sport and also by the showman as a Saturday afternoon's
sensational entertainment, with a parachute descent as the piece
de resistance. The experiments in adapting the balloon into the
dirigible had, however, been left to the pioneers on the
Continent.
PARTRIDGE'S AIRSHIP
It appears that in the nineteenth century only one airship was
constructed in this country, which proved to be capable of
ascending into the air and being propelled by its own machinery.
This airship made its appearance in the year 1848, and was built
to the designs of a man named Partridge. Very little information
is available concerning this ship. The envelope was cylindrical
in shape, tapering at each end, and was composed of a light rigid
framework covered with fabric. The envelope itself was covered
with a light wire net, from which the car was suspended. The
envelope contained a single ballonet for regulating the pressure
of the gas. Planes, which in design more nearly resembled sails,
were used for steering purposes. In the car, at the after end,
were fitted three propellers which were driven by compressed air.
Several trips of short duration were carried out in this airship,
but steering was never successfully accomplished owing to
difficulties encountered with the planes, and, except in weather
of the calmest description, she may be said to have been
practically uncontrollable.
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