The German Aluminium Balloon

Extract

In most circles, particularly amongst technical aeronauts, the opinion is widespread that the adherents of construction of aerostatical dirigible balloons are on a false track, and that their objects are fundamentally different from those who seek to solve the problem of flight by purely dynamical means. The great resistance of the air which the balloon has to overcome, and the unfavourableness of such a form of construction, is generally put forward as .an insurmountable obstacle.

The balloon, as all must allow, his already gained a recognized position, and has become useful for military and scientific purposes, whilst the dynamical flying machine has proved that, with such modern technical ingenuity of construction as has been created by Maxim, and is represented by the first flying machine to carry three persons, anything may be expected of it in the future.

This belief in the future of the dynamical aerial machine is shared rightly by all aeronauts, but the development of it can only proceed (in the opinion of all practical and experienced balloonists) through the aerostatical balloon. The latter is an inevitable step in the evolution of aerial navigation.