o practical good would come of
the experiment. At last the inventor approached M. Pegoud, who undertook
to make the descent. This was accomplished from a great height with
perfect safety. It seems highly probable that in the near future
the parachute will form part of the equipment of every aeroplane and
air-ship.

CHAPTER VII. Some British Inventors of Air-ships

The first Englishman to invent an air-ship was Mr. Stanley Spencer, head
of the well-known firm of Spencer Brothers, whose works are at Highbury,
North London.

This firm has long held an honourable place in aeronautics, both in the
construction of air-craft and in aerial navigation. Spencer Brothers
claim to be the premier balloon manufacturers in the world, and, at the
time of writing, eighteen balloons and two dirigibles lie in the works
ready for use. In these works there may also be seen the frame of the
famous Santos-Dumont air-ship, referred to later in this book.

In general appearance the first Spencer air-ship was very similar to
the airship flown by Santos-Dumont; that is, there was the cigar-shaped
balloon, the small engine, and the screw propellor for driving the craft
forward.

But there was one very important distinction between the two air-ships.
By a most ingenious contrivance the envelope was made so that, in the
event of a large and serious escape of gas, the balloon would assume
the form of a giant umbrella, and fall to earth after the manner of a
parachute.

All inventors profit, or should profit, by the experience of others,
whether such experience be gained by success or failure. It was found
that Santos-Dumont's air-ship lost a considerable amount of gas when
driven through the air, and on several occasions the whole craft was in
great danger of collapse. To keep the envelope inflated as tightly as
possible Mr. Spencer, by a clever contrivance, made it possible to force
air into the balloon to replace the escaped gas.

The first Spencer air-ship was built for experimental purposes. It
was able to lift only one person of light weight, and was thus a great
contrast to the modern dirigible which carries a crew of thirty or forty
people. Mr. Spencer made several exhibition flights in his little craft
at the Crystal Palace, and so successful were they that he determined to
construct a much larger craft.

The second Spencer air-ship, first launched in 1903, was nearly 100 feet
long. There was one very important distinction betwe