Intrepid replica needs helium

[Glorybound]

Posted on Sat, May. 19, 2012
Helium sought for Civil War replica balloon in NY
By CAROLYN THOMPSON
Associated Press


In this artist's rendering provided by the Genesee County Village and Museum, the "Intrepid," a new manned balloon replicating ones used in the Civil War to guide Union artillery against Confederate positions, is superimposed on an historic picture taken of a balloon being launched. The Intrepid is a centerpiece of the Genesee Country Museum's 150th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War. A helium shortage is threatening to deflate the museum's plans for a July 4 launch of the balloon.
- Genesee County Village and Museum /AP Photo

A helium shortage is threatening to deflate a western New York museum's plans for the July 4 launch of a manned balloon like the ones used in the Civil War to guide Union artillery against Confederate positions.

The Intrepid is a centerpiece of the Genesee Country Museum's 150th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War. It replicates one of the hydrogen-powered balloons troops used to telegraph intelligence that allowed ground forces to train guns on enemies they couldn't see.

But with its scheduled debut fast approaching, museum officials fear the $400,000 one-of-a-kind project will fall flat.

Helium is in short supply because of the 1996 Helium Privatization Act that called on the government to sell off most of its helium reserves by 2015.

http://www.thestate.com/2012/05/19/2282294/helium-sought-for-civil-war-replica.html

 

[FourLeafClover]

With election fast approaching, maybe they should switch to hot air, as there should be a surplus.

 

[PartywithArty]

With election fast approaching, maybe they should switch to hot air, as there should be a surplus.

I fully agree!

 

[hcheetham]

the museum is not very far from me and does a great job of remembering the Civil War.I hope they can find the helium.seems the govn't ought to be able to locate some helium since they are able to find anything else that we don't need they should be able to find something we do need.

 

[Glorybound]

Posted at 08:49 AM ET, 06/19/2012 TheWashingtonPost

Civil War balloon saved by last minute infusion of helium

By Linda Wheeler

Finally, the helium needed to fly a replica of a manned Civil War balloon "Intrepid" on July 4 has been found. The donor is Macy's, a New York department store famous for its helium-filled balloons that are synonymous with the annual Thanksgiving Day parade in that city.

The Genesse County Village & Museum near Rochester, N.Y. made a public plea recently for help in finding an adequate supply of helium to get its $350,000 project off the ground. During the planning stages, no one knew that the supply was tight because the 1996 Helium Privatization Act of 1996 had called for the government to sell off most of its reserve by 2015.

Now, the replica of a Civil War reconnaissance balloon will lift off on schedule thanks to a donation of 50,000 cubic feet of helium from Macy's. It will be tethered to the ground as were the originals, and visitors to the museum will be able to take a 15-minute flight for a nominal cost in addition to the museum entry fee.

The museum took on the project as a way to participate in the war's sesquicentennial and because it was in keeping with the time period of its authentic 19th century village, according to museum officials. For the 4th of July, an encampment is planned, with the launching of the balloon as the main event.

The "Intrepid" was part of the Union Army Balloon Corps established by President Abraham Lincoln. He was convinced of the importance of balloon surveillance after Thaddeus S. C. Lowe gave Lincoln a demonstration of its military use when he ascended in a balloon over Arlington, Va. in September 1861. From that vantage point, he was able to telegraph to the ground a report on Confederate military activities three miles away.

By Linda Wheeler | 08:49 AM ET, 06/19/2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ion-of-helium/2012/06/19/gJQA7qBknV_blog.html

 

[Glorybound]

Western NY museum's replica Civil War balloon lifts off; public rides offered starting July 4

By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, July 3, 3:40 PM

MUMFORD, N.Y. — Terry Lowe drove 1,000 miles to get a taste of what his Civil War balloonist ancestor experienced while observing troop movements on the battlefields of Virginia — minus the pot-shots from Confederate guns, of course.

"It was phenomenal," Lowe said after taking a ride in a balloon with his 20-year-old son, Nathan, on a calm, sunny Tuesday morning at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, 15 miles southwest of Rochester.

The balloon is the centerpiece of the museum's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. It duplicates one used by Union troops to telegraph intelligence that allowed ground forces to track Confederate troop movements and bombard their positions.

The helium-filled replica is based on the original Intrepid, one of the largest of the Union's seven hydrogen-filled balloons commanded by Thaddeus Lowe from 1861 to 1863. Lowe was a 29-year-old aeronaut, scientist and inventor when he was personally tasked by President Abraham Lincoln to create a Union Army balloon corps for aerial reconnaissance.

It was dangerous work. The tethered balloons and the observers riding in the baskets made tempting targets as they slowly descended from more than 1,000 feet. They were never hit, but Thaddeus Lowe and his fellow observers "were shot at a lot," said Terry Lowe, a great-great-grand-nephew of the Civil War balloonist.

The museum offered rides Tuesday for the media, with Terry and Nathan Lowe also getting their turn in the tethered basket.

"It's a very smooth ride," the elder Lowe reported after his trip aloft.

However, at about the 200-foot level, the wind caused the basket to start swaying a bit, giving the Lowes a taste of what their ancestor and his comrades experienced over the battlegrounds of Virginia 150 years ago.

"I'm thinking to myself, it's a nice, calm day," said Terry Lowe, a 60-year-old technology coordinator for the city of Lincoln in Nebraska. "Can you imagine was it was like to take observations when the wind was blowing and there was smoke over the battlefield?"

Starting Wednesday, the museum will offer daily tethered rides taking passengers to 300 feet, weather permitting. The cost is $15 in addition to the museum's all-day admission of $15.50.

The project almost didn't get off the ground because of a helium shortage, but Macy's came through with a donation of 50,000 cubic feet of the gas.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...rting-july-4/2012/07/03/gJQA1jEILW_print.html

 

[FourLeafClover]

Jeez, you can buy anything at Macy's. I expect their helium display is up on the top floor