Mooring

Technology for securing an aircraft to the ground.

Note: A "captive balloon" is "a balloon restrained from free flight by means of a cable attaching it to the earth." A "kite balloon" is "an elongated form of captive balloon, fitted with lobes to keep it headed into the wind; it usually derives increased lift from the inclinations of its axis to the wind."

Joseph Mac Sweeny describes mooring a balloon in 1837 (in a paper on Aerostation read before the Cuverian Society of Cork, 1 November 1837; reprinted in Mac Sweeny, 1844, Essay on Aerial Navigation, p. 40):

For mooring, barbed irons furnished with rings, may be hammered into the ground. Ropes for retaining the balloon, can be fastened to them. A person could dig up these irons; the screws in the sod, would keep the balloon down, until he could get into the car. The screws could then be withdrawn and the balloon made to ascend. (Note.—The ascent may be made by throwing out some of a guide-rope.)

References

Enclosing categories	Simple tech terms
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Keywords	Landing
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