Alfred Wegener: Difference between revisions

Berlin flattered itself a world center for aviation under the lavish patronage of the kaiser and the army. Kurt and Alfred had, many times in their childhood, looked up to see the great balloons soaring over the city. The opportunity to go ballooning had been from the beginning one of the main attractions that brought Alfred and Kurt to Lindenberg.

 

Berson and Alfred got an early start on 11 May 1905, lifting off just after 8.30 am, from the aerodrome at Reinickendorf in Berlin in a hydrogen-filled balloon. Berson was interested in measuring the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere and its change with altitude. Alfred's job was to be the navigator and determine their geographic position at regular intervals, as well as keeping the journal and handling the ballast.

 

Alfred and Berson flew for ten hours, got up over 5,500 meters and made a controlled landing in Gleiwitz, East Prussia.

 

Alfred's second balloon flight took place on 30 August 1905. The plan was to observe a partial eclipse of the Sun and, from the faintly visible stars, provide an opportunity for Alfred to practice astronomical position finding while aloft.