7 miles is held by Aviator Schroeder. The maximum altitude of 

 over 20 miles was made in southern California by balloons carry- 

 ing meteorological instruments. Mr. W. R. Gregg in referring 



to the highest aerial sounding recently stated, " if the Pavia 



record is to be deprived of that distinction so far as known, the 

 next highest observation published is that made at Avalon, Calif., 

 on July 30, 1913. As computed from the barograph trace, an 

 altitude of 32,640 meters [108,000 ft. or 20.4 miles] was reached. 

 The pressure was 7 A millimeters. The rate of ascent was about 

 100 meters per minute near the surface, 275 at 16 kilometers, and 

 520 at the highest altitudes" (6). 



The Solo-flight — It cannot be denied that the solo-flight, 

 which is the last stage of balloon-schooling before receiving a 

 diploma, is generally faced with some apprehension. But on the 

 morning of Lincoln's birthday, the sunshine was bright, the 

 sky free from clouds, the air motionless and of such moderate 

 temperature, and above all the beautifully modeled new balloon 

 gently swaying above its new basket, all elements combined to 

 dispel every thought of worry as to the outcome. With a back- 

 ground of experience obtained by a record of twenty-five flights, 

 forty air hours, and twelve hundred miles of flying in every kind 

 of aircraft, the novice for the first time assumed actual command 

 of a balloon. Surrounded by his officer and student friends, the 

 pilot felt a pardonable elation as he inspected the valve-cord, rip- 

 cord, statoscope, drag-rope, life-preservers, water and food sup- 

 ply. The orderly array of sandbags felt good under his feet as 

 he arranged the barographs, thermograph, camera, field-glasses, 

 megaphone, etc. As an anchor is rarely used in this 'region, he 

 took in its stead a few extra bags of ballast. But before climbing 

 into the basket and assuming command, the pilot realized that he 

 had to decide between taking this exquisitely made little balloon 

 with its splendid equipment (which was good for 24 hours" jour- 

 ney over desert, mountains, or sea) and make an altitude or long- 

 distance flight, beating his own record of 10,000 feet, or as the 

 other alternative, making a new hour's qualification record for 

 low altitude, minimum ballast and gas consumption. As four 

 officers were also named in his ofificial orders for the flight to take 

 the balloon when he had done with it, and accomplish their own 

 solo qualifications, he resolved, before leaving the ground, to make 

 the flight a record-breaker in minimum altitude and distance and 

 low consumption of sand and gas. As a passenger, recorder, 

 observer, or meteorologist on nine previous flights he had always 

 closely observed and carefully analyzed every action of the pilot. 

 For these studies a five-minute log of the course was kept. These 

 entries showed the altitude, wind direction and movement, char- 

 acter of the ground and navigation of the ship, as well as com- 



6. R. J. Gregg. Monthly Weather Review. Washington, Nov., 1920. 



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