tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post1314819637278899817..comments2024-03-18T18:05:25.821-07:00Comments on VISIONS OF THE NORTH: Arctic Message BalloonsRussell Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-90986017933743459732013-05-31T05:02:57.510-07:002013-05-31T05:02:57.510-07:00I see that Gillies-Ross has looked into all possib...I see that Gillies-Ross has looked into all possibilities, and suggests that coal-gas or oil-gas ("portable gas") are the most likely; either might have a smell if impure.Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-25712967412187084252013-05-29T08:44:03.106-07:002013-05-29T08:44:03.106-07:00Acetylene is even more flammable than hydrogen, an...Acetylene is even more flammable than hydrogen, and can burn at a lower concentration. Its density, though lower than air, is much higher than hydrogen, though, so I doubt it could keep even a very light balloon aloft.<br /><br />Thanks for the reference to the book! I will definitely track it down.Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-67075422846616524792013-05-29T01:03:56.480-07:002013-05-29T01:03:56.480-07:00Hydrogen is also flammable, we only had to remembe...Hydrogen is also flammable, we only had to remember how the Zeppelin Hindenburg burnt in 1937.<br /><br />I am sure that you would find interesting this book: "How to Build & Fly Hydrogen & Hot Air Balloons by John Wise (1984)" is a version of another book written in 1850 an called "A System of Aeronautics (1850)". It is mentioned here: <br /><br />http://www.gasballooning.net/How%20to%20Build%20Hydrogen.jpg<br />Andrés Paredeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17283802897907742244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-78210600845958805612013-05-28T06:14:11.569-07:002013-05-28T06:14:11.569-07:00I don't think acetylene is bouyant enough to l...I don't think acetylene is bouyant enough to lift a balloon very high -- but it sure is <a href="http://www.esdjournal.com/static/Kansas/dauer%20truck.htm" rel="nofollow">explosive</a>!Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-67358180252062593122013-05-27T23:35:31.153-07:002013-05-27T23:35:31.153-07:00Russell, remembering my days of speleologist, I re...Russell, remembering my days of speleologist, I remember having used countless times calcium carbide in carbide lamps to illuminate our way on the caves(mining style).<br /><br />If you poured water over the calcium carbide you obtain acetylene which is sligthly lighter than the air and though when it is pure it is odorless, when you obtain it from calcium carbide it has a peculiar and strong odor. What I cannot say it is if that density difference is enough to rise a ballon like that.Andrés Paredeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17283802897907742244noreply@blogger.com