$2 Aerial JVavigation. 



Having now shown the proper shape for a balloon and the manner of 

 attaching wings, represented in figure 1 and 2, to it, I shall now de- 

 scribe the pilot car, passenger or observer c5r and their uses. The 

 pilot car is represented in figure 1 by L, in figure 2, by SS. It is to be 

 immediately attached to the wings and only of a sufficient size for one 

 person unless the wings are very large. This car is to be occupied 

 only by the mover of the wings, who is to be the pilot and governor 

 of the balloon and all its courses and motions. It is to be supplied 

 with a small compass and chart of the country over which it is in- 

 tended to sail, a light seat to be occupied by the pilot in descent or 

 when the wings are at restj and a valve in its bottom opening upward 

 sufficiently large for the passage of the pilot either in or out, or up- 

 wards or downwards. Its depth is to be such, that when the pilot 

 stands upright and the wings lie level on the air, his hands, when, 

 suspended, will be even with them or their handles K, k, e,f, g, h. 

 The passenger or observer car is to be suspended about five or six 

 feet below the pilot car, or ten or twelve below the balloon, by means 

 of strong cords, immediately fastened to the lower edge of the re- 

 ticulated envelope of the balloon, and extending through the wings 

 at their axles, so as not to be anywise dependent for elevation on their 

 percussion. This car is intended to be the deposit of all things 

 carried in the air, or conveyed through it, passengers, observers, ob- 

 serving and meteorological instruments, ballast, necessaries, &;c. ex- 

 cept those specified for the pilot car. If the balloon is designed to 

 carry but one person, he is to occupy the pilot car, while a few 

 pounds of ballast must occupy the passenger or observer car, to keep 

 the wings steady during motion, and in case the balloon should break 

 or burst, to prevent its overturning, or vacillating too much during 

 the descent. The size, weight, and strength of this car and its at- 

 tachment to the balloon, must correspond with the size or ascensive 

 power of the balloon, the number of passengers, observers, &;c., or 

 the intended weight to be carried, or gravity overcome ; while that 

 of the pilot car will be uniform. The pilot car is intended to oc- 

 cupy an intermediate position between the ascensive power of the 

 balloon and the gravity of the passenger or observer car, and what is 

 in it ; so that the pilot can give either the ascendency with the wings 

 at pleasure. The passenger or observer car must likewise be supplied 

 with a light strong cord of one hundred or two hundred feet long, a 

 windlass and small anchor, to stop further progression, in case of ne- 

 cessity, during a swift wind. 



