Tow
The tow , even tow , tow line or abrasive cloth called, is a landing aid of free balloons . It is a rope made of coconut fibers that is at least 30 millimeters thick and between 30 and 60 meters long. It is attached to the balloon ring and rolled up into a ball in the tow apron on the outside of the balloon basket. During the landing phase, the tow hangs down along its entire length. If the end of the tow hits the ground, it reduces the total weight of the balloon. The deeper the balloon sinks, the stronger this effect becomes, because a larger piece lies on top and no longer has to be carried by the balloon. The tow helps to slow down the sinking of the balloon and to stabilize its vertical position. In addition, it slows down the horizontal speed of the balloon through friction on the ground and aligns it so that the tear strip , which is on the tow side, lies on top of the collapsing envelope after landing.
The tow was invented in 1820 by the English balloonist Charles Green . Green used a tow rope several hundred meters long that he left rolled out while driving in order to keep the cruising altitude constant and to save ballast and lifting gas .
literature
- Franz Linke : Modern airship travel . Alfred Schall, Berlin 1903, p. 66
- Viktor Silberer : Basics of practical airship travel. IV. Dragline and anchor. In: Wiener Luftschiffer-Zeitung 1, Heft 4, 1902, pp. 65–69
Individual evidence
- ^ Johannes Poeschel: Movement with gas-borne aircraft, lighter than air . In: Johannes Poeschel (editor): Ins Reich der Lüfte , Chapter 3, 2nd revised and expanded edition, Voigtländer, Leipzig 1927, p. 76