Part 27 of Wonders of World Aviation was published on Tuesday 6th September 1938, price 7d.
This part included a colour plate showing Lunardi’s second balloon. This was one of the illustrations in the article on Britain’s First Aerial Voyages.
The Cover
Our cover picture this week shows the Savoia-Marchetti S-74 , an Italian four-engined long-distance commercial monoplane, which accommodates 20-27 passengers and has a cruising speed of 180 miles an hour at 5,250 feet. Savoia-Marchetti machines were used in massed flights led by General Balbo across the South and North Atlantic in 1930 and 1933. The S-74 is one of the latest types produced by the company.
Contents of Part 27
Great Air Experiments (Part 2)
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Famous German Airship Flights
Lunardi’s Second Balloon
(colour plate)
Lunardi’s Second Balloon
THE COLOURS OF THE NATIONAL FLAG of Great Britain were used effectively on Lunardi’s second balloon, the largest hydrogen balloon in existence in 1785. With something of the showman’s instinct, Lunardi decided that his balloon should appeal to the eye and also express a compliment to the country of his adoption. Most of the early aeronauts carried a large flag, with which they waved reassurance to spectators below. The contemporary illustrations of early balloons generally show light oars of various kinds; but experience was to prove that the attempts at propulsion by such means were fruitless and oars were discarded by the balloonists of a later date.
