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Hot air balloon, Douglas

Date(s): early 20th century

Place made: Douglas

Scope & Content: The process of inflating the balloon prior to the first manned aerial ascent on the Isle of Man which took place in Peveril Square, Douglas, at 1:34pm on Monday, November 10th, 1902. The ascent was made by the well-known aeronauts Rev. John Mackenzie Bacon and Mr. Percival Spencer. The purpose of the flight was to undertake survey work for The Admiralty. This concerned signalling between a ship, HMS Renard, an Alarm Class Torpedo Guboat, and the balloon, and involved the balloon carrying what was referred to as a ‘collapsible drum’ through which signals would be sent by opening and shutting the drum in long and short pauses, as in the style of a signalling flag in semaphore, to HMS Renard which was tasked with supporting the flight by following the track of the balloon and returning messages. By this they hoped to establish how far balloons could be usefully deployed in time of war. The balloon measured 65 feet in height and 45 feet in diameter with a capacity of 45,000 cubic feet (this compared to a War Balloon which had a capacity of 10,000 cubic feet). The process of inflation involved a hose, made of the same material as the balloon, being attached to a wooden pipe within it. The other end of the hose was divided into three pipes each of which was attached to 2 inch iron pipes, which were in turn connected to the town’s 12 inch gas main. At 8:35am the signal was given and the gas main was opened to being the inflation. As the inflation continued, news reached Bacon & Spencer that HMS Renard had departed Holyhead at 9:30am and was en-route to Douglas.

The inflation was completed at 12:55pm at which time the instruction was given to turn off the gas, and the feed pipe was detached. By 1:25pm all was prepared, and tethered by guide ropes and canvas bags containing half a ton of sand, the balloon sat ready for its ascent.

Information provided by Paul Quine, December 2021

Language: eng

Item name: photograph

Collection: Photographic Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: PG/5842/3

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