Light Heart (balloon)
Encyclopedia
Light Heart was a balloon
constructed by Colonel
Thomas Leigh Gatch, Jr., USAR (born 13 September 1925 — disappeared 19 February 1974) for an unsuccessful attempt at the first crossing of the Atlantic by balloon.
Colonel Gatch was the son of Rear Admiral Thomas Leigh Gatch
(1891-1953).
balloons. Each of these was a superpressure balloon
(also known as a constant pressure or positive pressure balloon.) In theory, such a balloon can retain a constant altitude over very long-distance flights of several days' duration, since the volume of the envelope remains relatively constant over time. Changes in the pressure of the gas due to heating and cooling are accommodated by the mitigating the temperatures changes and using an inelastic envelope. The sealed and insulated gondola, which Gatch constructed at home, was designed to maintain the same partial pressure as at sea level (40% oxygen at 0.5 atmospheres).
to somewhere in Western Europe
in a little over two days. The theory underlying this plan plan was that he would be able to maintain a constant altitude of 12,000m (39,000ft); at this altitude the jet stream
should carry his aircraft from North America
to Europe
in the time planned.
and Atlantic City New Jersey
. Gatch reported that one of the ten helium balloons had burst during the ascent (at 20.45). While the balloon was able to continue in this condition, he had been forced to jettison water ballast to continue climbing and he was now able to cruise at no more than 11,000,m (36,000ft), rather than the 12,000m (39,000ft) he had originally intended.
For the next sixteen hours Gatch maintained radio contact with passing airliners (at least two of which were diverted to avoid his craft.) His last radio contact was at 12.50 on Tuesday, 19 February, with BOAC
Flight 583. At that point, the balloon was 1,490km (925 miles) NE of San Juan
, Puerto Rico
. Light Heart contimued to drift southwards out of the main transatlantic airways, far south of Gatch's plotted course.
No further radio transmissions were received from Light Heart. The Liberian
freighter Ore Meridian reported sighting the balloon just after dawn on 21 February. At that point, the balloon was at an altitude of about 305m (1000ft), approximately 1,610km (1,000 miles) west of the Canary Islands
and drifting towards Africa. According to this report, eight of the ten balloons remained inflated. The gondola was designed to float in the event of a water landing and to be radar reflective. Notwithstanding this (or conjectures that the balloon might have landed in the Spanish Sahara
) no confirmed trace of Light Heart or Colonel Gatch was ever founded, after the Ore Meridians reported sighting on 21 February.
The US Department of Defence
and the Spanish Army
conducted extensive search operations both at sea off West Africa
and in the Spanish Sahara
. Search operations were called off in mid-March 1974.
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
constructed by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Thomas Leigh Gatch, Jr., USAR (born 13 September 1925 — disappeared 19 February 1974) for an unsuccessful attempt at the first crossing of the Atlantic by balloon.
Colonel Gatch was the son of Rear Admiral Thomas Leigh Gatch
Thomas Leigh Gatch
Thomas Leigh Gatch was an American naval officer and attorney in the 20th century. A native of Oregon, and grandson of educator Thomas Milton Gatch, he served in the United States Navy as a ship commander during World War II and Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 1943 to 1945...
(1891-1953).
Balloon design
The balloon consisted of a sealed and pressurized envelope suspended from a cluster of ten heliumHelium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
balloons. Each of these was a superpressure balloon
Superpressure balloon
A superpressure balloon is a style of aerostatic balloon where the volume of the balloon is kept relatively constant in the face of changes in the temperature of the contained lifting gas. This allows the balloon to keep a stable altitude for long periods...
(also known as a constant pressure or positive pressure balloon.) In theory, such a balloon can retain a constant altitude over very long-distance flights of several days' duration, since the volume of the envelope remains relatively constant over time. Changes in the pressure of the gas due to heating and cooling are accommodated by the mitigating the temperatures changes and using an inelastic envelope. The sealed and insulated gondola, which Gatch constructed at home, was designed to maintain the same partial pressure as at sea level (40% oxygen at 0.5 atmospheres).
Flight Plan
Gatch intended to fly the Atlantic (solo) from Harrisburg Airport, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to somewhere in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
in a little over two days. The theory underlying this plan plan was that he would be able to maintain a constant altitude of 12,000m (39,000ft); at this altitude the jet stream
Jet stream
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. The main jet streams are located near the tropopause, the transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere . The major jet streams on Earth are westerly winds...
should carry his aircraft from North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the time planned.
Flight and disappearance
Light Heart took off from Harrisburg Airport at 19.29 on 18 February 1974. By 21.00 the balloon was reported to have stabilized at 10,200m (33,500ft), having passed over Dover, DelawareDover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
and Atlantic City New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Gatch reported that one of the ten helium balloons had burst during the ascent (at 20.45). While the balloon was able to continue in this condition, he had been forced to jettison water ballast to continue climbing and he was now able to cruise at no more than 11,000,m (36,000ft), rather than the 12,000m (39,000ft) he had originally intended.
For the next sixteen hours Gatch maintained radio contact with passing airliners (at least two of which were diverted to avoid his craft.) His last radio contact was at 12.50 on Tuesday, 19 February, with BOAC
British Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
Flight 583. At that point, the balloon was 1,490km (925 miles) NE of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Light Heart contimued to drift southwards out of the main transatlantic airways, far south of Gatch's plotted course.
No further radio transmissions were received from Light Heart. The Liberian
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
freighter Ore Meridian reported sighting the balloon just after dawn on 21 February. At that point, the balloon was at an altitude of about 305m (1000ft), approximately 1,610km (1,000 miles) west of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
and drifting towards Africa. According to this report, eight of the ten balloons remained inflated. The gondola was designed to float in the event of a water landing and to be radar reflective. Notwithstanding this (or conjectures that the balloon might have landed in the Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara was the name used for the modern territory of Western Sahara when it was ruled as a territory by Spain between 1884 and 1975...
) no confirmed trace of Light Heart or Colonel Gatch was ever founded, after the Ore Meridians reported sighting on 21 February.
The US Department of Defence
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and the Spanish Army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
conducted extensive search operations both at sea off West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and in the Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara was the name used for the modern territory of Western Sahara when it was ruled as a territory by Spain between 1884 and 1975...
. Search operations were called off in mid-March 1974.