Ballooning is an ancient sport which dates back to 1784, when the hot air bag invented by the Montgolfier brothers made its first man-carrying flight from the gardens of the Tuileries in the presence of Louis XVI of France and of Benjamin Franklin. When Franklin, foremost scientist of the day, was asked what use the balloon was, he cautiously countered: "Of what use is a newborn infant?" And the balloon has indeed been the precursor of many mighty dirigibles. Per se its utility is small. Kite balloons, a variant ol the spherical balloons used for sporting purposes, are useful as observation posts for Army and Navy operations alike, and spherical balloons may serve to form a barrage by a network of suspension wires to intercept attacking planes. But on the whole it may 'be said that the spherical balloon remains today what it has always been—an instrument of a most delightful and thrilling sport, with devotees as numerous as ever. The great balloon event of the year is the Gordon Bennett Cup race open to international contestants, and at present held by Belgium. But a pilot to have his chance in the Gordon Bennett must survive a national elimination race. This race was held last week in the U. S. Seven large gas bags left San Antonio in the presence of 100,000 people. The pilots were Captain H. E. Honeywell, Kansas City Cooperative Club, making his 550th ascent; Herbert von Thaden, Detroit Aviation Society; Major Norman W. Peek, U. S. Air Service Balloon No. 1; Captain Edmund W. Hill and Lieutenant Ashley C. McKinley, two other Air Service pilots; W. T. Van Norman, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The construction of a balloon is comparatively simple. It consists of a huge bag some 30 or more feet in diameter, spherical in cut but assuming an egg shaped form with the bigger end at the top; round the gas bag is the load ring from which are suspended a series of cables holding the basket; the basket much resembles a housewife's market basket— only much bigger, some 3% feet high, 3 feet wide and 3% feet long. In the basket are ballast, instruments, warm clothing, food, water, coffee, sterno. The balloonists are comfortable, though slightly cramped for long flights.
The "object" of the balloon race is to float as far as possible from the starting point. This looks simple, far simpler than piloting a racing airplane. The balloons entered in a modern race are more or less alike, the equipment and instruments are identical. Since the wind is the sole propelling agency, it would appear that luck alone is the deciding factor.. Far from it. Skill is more important: in ballooning than in airplane racing, where the technically best machine is almost certain to win.