The Study of Aeronautics

[BobBox 3798]

Spoiler

 

The Study of Aeronautics
Published on the 11th of Sigismund's End, 1802

A depiction of a hot air balloon from the lands of Ba’as.

Introduction

Long have the people of these lands used hot air balloons as methods of travel, entertainment, and for fighting great beasts. This paper aims to describe the attributes and limitations of such methods of transport, along with the possible solutions to problems that have been presented.

 

 

The Structure

Hot air balloons are composed of a couple of main parts, mainly the envelope and the basket, but they are also deceivingly complex. 

The envelope is what most people would refer to as “The Balloon”. These are typically made out of silks or various forms of thick paper and are commonly dyed in a variety of colors. At the crown - the top - of the balloon is what’s called a parachute valve. This is sealed in flight by the pressure of the envelope but is opened with a rope upon descent to allow the pressure out. At the bottom of the envelope is the burner, where various materials (such as straw and chopped wool) are hand-fed into a small chamber where they are then burned. 

 

The basket of the balloon is where the people normally stand - or pilots as they’re known in the study of Aeronautics. These baskets are made out of a material called wicker, which is a light and sturdy material that is woven together to form a circular platform with railings on which the pilots stand and store their materials. The basket is normally attached to the envelope of the balloon with many ropes to ensure that it is stable throughout the flight. Finally, tied on the outside of the basket are bags of sand, which are released during the flight to allow the balloon to ascend quicker. 

 

How to Fly

Flight is a complicated process that must be done in the same short sequence of steps every time it is desired. Firstly, while the basket is tied or weighed down to the ground, the envelope must be inflated with the pressure produced from the burner. When the envelope is fully inflated, you may then cut the restraints that hold the basket to the ground. Flight will then be achieved, but there are still a number of other things that must be noted for flying in the sky. Tip number one is that it is generally better to slowly deplete a weight than to release it all together, as the latter will most likely cause uneven weight distribution. Secondly, it is generally better to release pressure slowly rather than quickly, as it is easier to release pressure than it is to gain pressure. The final tip is to keep the weight equal on all sides of the basket as uneven distribution could quickly spell disaster.

 

 

The Problems of Flight

While studying Aeronautics, I have encountered a few problems which I mean to address in this paper. These problems are as followed:  

 

Problem One
The first problem I encountered while studying was the issue of tracking your height or altitude as it is known in the field. One solution to this is to have a rope with a known length attached to the basket of the balloon and to land. When the rope is taught, you will know at what altitude you are. The flaw in this solution rests in the fact that such a rope - normally at least three hundred feet long - would be very expensive to produce, as it must be continuous and very finely made.

 

Problem Two
The second problem I encountered is the weather. Oftentimes you may set off for flight on a bright and sunny day but you may quickly find that you have drifted into a storm. The only course of action during such a time would be to hastily descend to the ground, oftentimes completely ruining the flight. One possible solution to this issue would be to use alchemical oils to treat the silk of the balloon, making it weather resistant if such a thing is possible. 

 

Problem Three
The third problem with flight is the fuel source. In theory, if one was able to get an infinite fuel source, they would be able to ascend into the heavens. Currently, hot air balloons burn simple dried out products to ascend, but if one were able to harness alchemical flames or even the fire of mages that last forever, we may be able to ascend to new heights never before seen. 

 

Problem Four
The fourth problem that I’ve encountered is that hot air balloons have no direct directional control. As it currently stands, there is no way to reliably control which direction you’re heading in a hot air balloon, and while it is true that different altitudes tend to push you in different directions, these can still change on a whim.

 

Problem Five
The final problem that I have thought of is the cost of such a contraption. While it may be possible to fund such a project on your own, it turns out to be quite costly when three or even four of the balloons need to be made at a time, especially when factoring in that they tend to break or become damaged upon landing. A potential solution to this problem would be to find an alternative material to silks - as such are often reserved for royalty and other precious objects. 

 

A Note from the Author
Hello! I am Anthony Alexios Basrid, I’m currently thirteen,  and this is the first academic paper I’ve written. I hope you enjoyed my study on Aeronautics, and I plan to pursue the skies soon enough. As part of my plan, I am humbly asking for assistance with the problems listed above. Please feel free to send a bird if you’ve solutions, I’m always around!

OOC: BobBox (Austin)#4660 

 

[!] A self-portrait of Anthony Alexios Basrid is drawn at the bottom of each paper along with his signature.

Spoiler

Thank you to Venclair for the art of Anthony!

 

[venclair 713]

Victoria Clementine sat in an armchair near the most sunny window, a quiet day idled away — the song was a gentle hum from the girl, and the rhythmic noises of the birds. In her bouts of pottering, she basked at the treatise her cousin had written, briskly grinning the faintest of grins at such. She sought to find the boy, readying herself to laud him with her dreaded stuttering.

[Jtit 228]

Valeria vas Ruthern would retrieve the paper Anthony had given her from her bag as soon as she'd return home. As the girl read over the informational piece, her lips curled into a bright smile, an indication of her admiration.  When she was finished reading, she'd retrieve a piece of paper and quill to send off a letter to Anthony himself, applauding him of his work. 

[DahStalker 3692]

Mariana Dubois frowns from hell, not having been mentioned. She'd scowl greatly and recline into a chair with a cushion of nails and flames.

[Goon 1614]

Cosimo Antony shook his head, impressed with the young boy's academic prowess. He sucked his teeth, idly rapping the back of his digits against the informative report before he set it down once more, "That Anthony -- rich and smart."  

[BkedBeans 12]

Wallace Reginald chuckles to himself as he reads through the paper. Wallace's mind still unable to comprehend the idea that there is more than just clouds in the sky....

[kujo_ 2510]

Pierre De La Baltas would perch himself atop a comfortable barrel nestled within the alleyways, indulging on some cannoli's as he'd peruse the study. Visions of stars and Providence from above linger, tucking the paper into his pocket.

[rukio 8924]

"...But these have existed for at least half a century." Ezyl would groan as she'd hear about the supposed breakthrough. "Ah well, not my problem." She'd grumble, pulling the hood back down over her face to nap once more.