This 1944 non-classified U.S. Navy black-and-white training film MN 2722a highlights the history of balloons. Animation shows balloon components: fabric, gas, net, load ring, basket, valve, appendix, ballast, rip panel, drag rope, and anchor (:20-1:29). A Navy balloon is prepared for inflation in a hangar. The sailors turn valves on a wall of hydrogen gas bottles (1:30-1:56). A cartoon animation depicts the first hot air balloon and one using hydrogen in 1783. Using both together blows up (1:57-3:20). Hydrogen and oxygen together are explosive, as shown in an experiment. Bottles of methanol (wood alcohol and water) are shown. The hydrogen valve is opened; the balloon expands. Animation shows how lifting force works. Charles’ Law and Boyle’s Law are explained (3:21-6:26). The animation shows coal gas and the first portable hydrogen plant. Footage shows a balloon moved during WWI. Hydrogen cylinders are stacked in woods (6:27-7:31). Goldbeater’s skin is made from the gut of oxen. Footage shows the resulting film’s hardiness. Cotton pickers pick cotton, made into fabric. A cellophane balloon is tested. Scientists work in a lab with test tubes (7:32-9:12). Sailors attach ballast. An animation shows the 1783 balloon with net-covered top, followed by net covering the balloon. An 1859 balloon used a boat as the basket. A Civil War balloon remained tethered. WWI had kite balloons with finger patches. Balloons also had pontoons attached. A balloon hit by lightning had the fabric collapse on the wire, creating a parachute (9:13-12:41). Animation shows how the valve, appendix, and ballast are used to steer the balloon. The appendix is closed during descent. Valve trapdoors are illustrated. Sailors attach an altimeter, rate-of-climb indicator, and a pocket compass. Animation shows early use of a mercury barometer, aneroid barometer, barograph, followed by the US and British statoscope, vertimeter (12:42-16:21). A balloon lands, hopping along the ground. Animation shows how the rip panel, drag rope, and anchor are used for landing. The drag rope hits a high-tension wire. A balloonist throws an anchor over. Rip panels include the peeling type, v-type peeling, and cheese cutter type. A sailor applies cement, using the peeling type, then shown on the inflated balloon (16:22-18:34). An overhead shot is shown of balloons waiting to race for the Gordon Bennett Trophy. Animation shows the race history. A Goodyear balloon is semi-inflated. A US Navy balloon rises (18:35-20:18). Winners include balloonist engineer and inventor Ward Van Orman, (then) Commander Charles E. Rosendahl, and Lieutenant Settle are shown. Settle made a stratosphere flight in 1933. The 1934 record-making balloon of Stevens, Kepner, and Anderson and the National Geographic Society balloon are shown (20:19-21:54). Animation shows the progressive of balloon heights achieved. Footage is shown of a radiosonde balloon and sailors launching a sounding balloon from a carrier (21:55-23:00). Animation shows balloons used in war in 1794, during the Civil War, and for French airmail. Footage shows an observation and barrage balloon being used by WWI AAF troops and many accompanying destroyers. Airships are removed from hangars. One flies by the balloons (23:01-26:25).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com