REPORT OF HOT AIR PERSONNEL BALLOON FLIGHT TEST

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05416081
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: February 15, 2017
• Case Number: F-2008-00941
• Publication Date: November 10, 1960

UNCLA.4S IF I ED
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FIELD DOCUMENT ROUTING AND ACTION RECORD
(b)(1:
INSTRUCTIONS: Routing designations, either individuals or units, are to be placed in the "TO" column. Comments are
to be numbered to correspond to the number in the "TO" column. Each comment is to be underlined with �a line drawn
across the "COMMENTS" column. Each recipient of the attached document is to place his initials in the proper space
following the corresponding numbered routing. The date the document is forwarded to the next routing is to be placed
in the prover column. The last routing on this sheet shall be the unit in which the basic document is to be filed.
If the holding unit is other than the central files, the central file shall be the next to the last routing to in-
sure proper control clearances. THIS DOCUMENT ROUTING AND ACTION RECORD IS TO REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE BASIC RECORD
DOCUMENT AS A PERMANENT RECORD. ,
FROM
DOCUMENT SYMBOL AND NU 'aro
Chief,
DOCUMENT DATE
1960
ACTION SUSPENSE DATE
10 November
TO
LOCATION
DATE
FORWARDED
OFFICER
INITIALS
COMMENTS
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DOCUMENT PROCESSING DATA
INDEXED
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ABSTRACTED
FILE NUMBER
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FORM NO.
861
I DEC 55
C014.1-+ETATTAL
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO Chief of Statio
FROM : Chief,
SUBJECT: Report of Hot Air Personnel Balloon Flight Test
I. Sponsors of Test: TSD/ED
DATE: 10 November 1960
Contractor, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
II. Purpose of Test:
To determine the feasibility and. practicality of hot air for
use as the lifting medium for personnel balloons by testing
hot air generating equipment and. a nylon-mylar material
balloon.
III. Date, Time and Place of Test:
a. Date and Time - 22 October 1960, 0600 to 0930 hours.
Place Balloon Launched - In Nebraska approximately 250 miles
south of Sioux Falls at an abandoned Air Force Base called
Bruning State Airport.
IV. Material Tested.:
A 40 ft. personnel balloon constructed of nylon-mylar cloth
material equipped with a propane burner to provide continuous
hot air during flight. Two propane bottles, containing a total
of 83 lbs. of fuel, were utilized as fuel source during the
flight.
V. Background:
TSD/EB awarded a contract to Raven Industries for the development
of a hot air system for personnel balloons. Specifications
called for development of a suitable balloon for use with
hot air and generating equipment or burners to utilize kerosene
or fuel oil (diesel).
jr�
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The contractor has produced a satisfactory 40 ft. balloon
frabricated of nylon-mylar material that will withstand
heat and is extremely durable. A ten foot diameter opening
has been incorporated into the top of the balloon for release
of the gas for landing. The opening is tied. off for flight
and can be released by either a primary release squib system
or alternate manual release system. This method. of releasing
the gas permits reuse of the balloon, versus the old. method
of ripping a panel used with the polyethelene balloons. The
lower portion of the balloon (see photo #8 lower dark part
of balloon) is made of nonflammable glass cloth to prevent
ignition of the balloon from the flame of the burner.
To date the contractor has been unable to provide a
satisfactory burner for utilization of low-grade petroleum
such as fuel oil or kerosene. The difficulty being the
residue deposit that forms over the burner and smothers the
flame after 15 to 20 minutes of operation. A propane burner
and propane fuel was used for the test.
VI. The Test Flight:
a. At 0600 on 22 October 1960 balloon launching preparations
commenced. The balloon was launched. at 0908, wind. West about
3 mph, ground. temperature 59�F. The flight terminated.
after a duration of 18 minutes, at 0926. No ballast was
carried on the flight.
Free lift when the balloon was launched. was sufficient to
result in a rate of ascent of about 250 ft/min. With a
burner output of about 3/4 maximum capacity the balloon
achieved equilibrum at about 500 ft. altitude. After about
18 minutes of flight at 500 ft. the pilot by decreasing the
hot air output of the burner commenced to descend for a
practice landing. Due to a combination of the decrease of
hot air input into the balloon and atmospheric cooling the
balloon reached a rate of descent of about 400 ft/min. The
pilot attempted to check the rapid rate of descent to a
safe landing speed by opening the burner to fullblast to
obtain the maximum hot air output.
Although the rate of descent was decreased somewhat, equilibrum
could not be obtained due to the incapability of the burner
to produce sufficient hot air rapidly. Because descent could
not be checked before contacting the surface the pilot
extinguished the burner at an altitude of 50 ft. to preclude
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setting the rig on fire on landing. Prior to landing when
several feet above the ground the pilot activated, the squib
release mechanism thereby opening the 10 ft. hole at the
top of the balloon and releasing the hot air' for landing
The landing was made without difficulty even though the
rate of descent was quite rapid-
A series of numbered photos of the layout, equipment,
inflation, launching) flight, and post landing are
included, with this report.
Photos as follows:
# 1 shows the balloon laid. out, two propane bottles, burner
left center, and. two Kollsman kerosene heaters.
# 2 and. 3 show a close up of the propane burner and.
inflation duct. Lower part of balloon made of nonflammable
glass cloth.
# 4 shows the balloon partially inflated using one of the
heaters as the hot air source.
# 5 shows the lower portion of the balloon rigged with the
propane burner and. two propane bottles, At this stage
the propane burner has been lit and. the final inflation
of the balloon was being completed. An auxiliary bottle
was used for this so. as not to use up the fuel from the
bottles rigged, for flight.
# 6 shows one of the helpers in the pilot's seat serving as
ballast to help hold the balloon. Inflation almost
completed-
# 7 shows the pilot in the seat, inflation completed and tie
auxiliary bottle being held: and disconnected by one of
the helpers. Instrukents can be seen on each side of the
pilot.
# 8 shows the balloon in flight.
# 9 and. 10 show the rig as it landed after the flight of
about 18 minutes. Note the pilots seat in the lower left
of photo #9. No damage was incurred to any of the
equipment as a result of the flight.
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VII. Comments:
a. The Balloon: (a sample of the balloon material is attached
to this report.)
This was the first and. to-date the only balloon fabricated
of nylon-myler material.
Due to itE lightweight1(40 ft. balloon weight is 74 lbs.)
durability and resistance to heat the material appears
very suitable for personnel balloons. Results of this
test indicated the material to be satisfactory.
b. The Burner:
The propane burner used. proved to be unsatisfactory.
Although sufficient continuous hot air could be generated
at maximum output setting to compensate for loss of hot
air due to atmospheric cooling and. maintain equilibrum
during flight, it was impossible to check descent and.
regain eouilibrum once a descent was initiated.. It is
estimated that a burner having double the output capacity
of the present burner would. be required. in order to provide
the margin of control capability required. for successful
and safe operations.
VIII. Conclusions:
a. From the viewpoint of feasibility it can be concluded that
hot air is satisfactory as the lifting gas for use with
personnel balloon.
b. From the viewpoint of practicability for covert operations
it can be concluded at least at this stage of development
that the system is not suitable. Conditional on the
development of a burner that utilizes a low-grade petroleum,
or perhaps a solid. fuel, I do not believe that this system
holds much promise for covert operational use.
c. It is concluded that the nylon-mylar material is most
satisfactory for personnel ballons.
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IX. Recommendations:
It is recommended that consideration be given to the development
of nylon-mylar material personnel balloons for use in the 0Th
personnel balloon training course. Involved in the development
would. be the incorporation of a 60 lbs, valve and a modification
of the lower part of the present model to accommodate the
gondola.
A substantial saving could be realized in the utilization of slch
a balloon-because the same balloon could be used over and over
indefinitely.
5
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vie
Chief of Statiouj
of riot Air Person
ye industries, Siot,r %�1s, South Ikkot
To determine the f
use as the lifting
hot air generating
balloon.
, Date, Time
Launched - In Nebraska
south of Sioux Falls at an abandoned
V. Backgeoun
balloons by testin
to .0930 hours.
pycninately 250 miles
trsunnal balloon constructed of nylon-mlylar cloth
mipped with a propane burner to provie. continuous
Two prepane bottles, containing a total
of fuel, were utilized as fuel source during the
WEB awarded a co tract tcj Raven Thdustris for the
of a hot or vs.tarn forpersonnel
called for dcve) opnent of a snitable balloon for use wa'th
hot air and gene_ burners to heneane
fuel oil (diese
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has been i
of the gas
and can be
or alternat
or 40 ft. balloon
of nylmamylar material t w 11 withstand
extremely durable. A ten foot diameter opening
oryorated into the top of the balloon for release
landing. The opening is tied off for flight
by either a primary release .squib y
manual release systam. This method of releasing
the gas permits reuse of the balloon, versus the old method
of ripping a panel used-with:the nolyetheiene balloons. The
lower .portion of the balloon (else photo fa lower dark part
of balloon)' is made of nonflammable glass cloth to prevent
ignition of the balloon from the, flame of the burner.
TO date the contractor has been Unable to provide a .
satisfactory burner for utilization of loa-grade petroleum
such as fuel oil or kerosene. The difficulty being the
residue deposit that forms over the burner and soothers the
flame after 15 to 20 minutes of operation._ A propane burner
and pronane fuel was used for the test.
VI. The Test F11
a. At 0600 on 22 October 1960 balloon launMr rePafltionE
commenced. The balloon was launched at 0908, wind West
3 mph, ground temperature 59�F. The flight terminated
duration of 18 minutes, at 0926 No ballast was
carried on the flight.
ftec lift when the balloon was launched. was suffic
result in a ate of ascent of about 250 ft/mm. Wi
burner output of about 3/4 maximum capacity the balloon
achieved equilibrum at about 500 ft. altitude. After about
18 minutes of flight at 500 ft. the pilot by decreasing the
hot air output of the burner commenced to descend for a
practice landing. Due to a combination of the decrease of
hot air input into the balloon and atmospheric cooling the
balloon -cached a rate of descent of about CO4 ft/min. The
pilot attempted to chock the rapid rate of descent to
safe landing speed by opening the burner to fullblast to
obtain the maximum hot air output.
Although the rate of descent was decreased somewhat, equllibraa
could not be obtained due to the incanability of the burner
to produce sufficient hot air raoidly. Because descent could
not be checked before contacting the surface the pilot
extinguished the burner at en altitude of 50 ft to preclude
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/W
the ' on fi.ce on 3sud1ng. Prior to landing when
feet above the ground the pilot activated the Sqnib
me' lax thereby opening the 10 ft'. hole at.the
he balloon and releasing the hot sir for 1ana1/14.
made without difficulty even though the
was. rapid.
� series of nunbered. D.hotos. of the layout, equipment
inflation, launching, flight, and post lending are
indluded with this report.
Photos asfollows:
vs the balLoon load out, two prosoe ho
left center, and two Kollsmaz
# 2 and 3 show aclose up of the propane burne
inflation duct. Lower part balloon made of nonflnab1e
aess clothg&.I4 shows
heaters
hot air sot
g:one of the
5 shows thelowet portion of :the balloon rigged, withthe
propane burner and two propane bottles, At this stage
tie propane burner has been lit and the final inflation
of the be/loon was being completed. An auxiliary bottle
was used for this so as not to use up the fuel from the
bottles rigged for flight.
# 6 shows one of the helpers in serving as
ballast to help hold the balloon. lnf]stlon almost
ompleted,
7 shove the -pilot in the seat, inflation completed and tie
aindliary bottle being held and disconnected by one of
the helpers.. Instrtmlents den be seen on each side of the
pilot.
t a shows the balloon in flight.
9 and 10 show the rig as it landed after the ldgh
about 18 minutes. Note the pilots seat is the low
of photo #9. No damage was incurred to ay of the
equipment as a result of the flicht.
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This was the fi
of nylon-myler
Due to itt:.lightwei
ttabilitr and resi
very suitab
test indicated the
urner:
a attached
ft. balloon weight is 74 lbs
to heat the inatenal appears
onnel balloons. Results of this
aaterial to be satisfactory.
The propane burner used proved un s'i
Although sufficient continuous hot air couJA be generated
at msrLaum put setting to ccnipennate for loos of ho
air due to atmospheric cooling and maintain equalibnm
during flight, it was impossible to check descent and
regain equilibrum once a descent was iniciated It .is
estimated that a burner having double the output capacity'
of the present burner would be required in order to provide
the gin of control capability respired for successful
and safe CiPeration.
. Conc].usior
tnn the viewpoint
hot air is satisfactory as the
sonnel balloon.
eluded that
use with
b. From the vicupoint of pranticablity for covert operation
it can be concluded at least at this stage of development
that the system is not suitable. Conditional-on the
development of a burner that utilizes a low-Lade petroleum
or Perhaps a solid fuel, do not believe that this system
holds much promise for covert operational use,
It s concluded that the nylon-mylar material is ri
satisfactory for personnel bollons.
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