Airships past and present, together with chapters on the use of balloons in connection with meteorology, photography and the carrier pigeon . FlG. 79.—Fraulein Kathe Paulus preparingto descend in her parachute. FiG. 80.—Fraulein Kathe Paulus withher double parachute. its diameter of 40 ft., with an opening 6 ins. across at the topweight was 66 lbs. The latest novelty is a double parachute, invented by theballoonist Lattemann, and used on her many descents byFraulein Kathe Paulus. They are rolled up, the one under theother, and hang from the balloon. The upper one opens as soonas the spring has
Airships past and present, together with chapters on the use of balloons in connection with meteorology, photography and the carrier pigeon . FlG. 79.—Fraulein Kathe Paulus preparingto descend in her parachute. FiG. 80.—Fraulein Kathe Paulus withher double parachute. its diameter of 40 ft., with an opening 6 ins. across at the topweight was 66 lbs. The latest novelty is a double parachute, invented by theballoonist Lattemann, and used on her many descents byFraulein Kathe Paulus. They are rolled up, the one under theother, and hang from the balloon. The upper one opens as soonas the spring has been made, and the lower one comes intooperation as soon as the motion becomes steady. If a doubleparachute is used, it is necessary to make the descent from a PARACHUTES. 127 great height. Fraulein Paulus has made sixty-five descents inthe parachute without serious injury; but it must be admitted. Fig. 81.—Fall of a parachute. that the journey has not always been a very smooth one. Acertain amount of grim determination is necessary for this kindof work, and the profession is never likely to be overcrowded. CHAPTER XII. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MILITAEY BALLOONING. Giroud de Villette made an ascent in one of Montgolfierscaptive balloons in 1783, and pointed out the obvious advantageswhich must result from its use in war. Meusnier was induced bythese considerations to devote much time to the study of dirigibleballoons ; his work has already been noticed in an earlier 1792, the Committee of Public Safety was urged by Guyton deMorveau to consider the question of using balloons in the defenceof the country. He had already built a dirigible aerostat for theAcademy of Dijon, and was able to convince his colleagues as totheir probable value. Indeed in the next year at the siege ofConde, attempts were made to communicate with the besieged bymeans of pilot balloons. But they were
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