allowed for the fuel tanks to be tucked into the corners, out of the way of the passengers. He paid attention to details all the way down to the weave of the baskets, using a vertical weave pattern that would allow the rattan to compress more easily as well as snag much less in tree branches or wires. He also notes in his Concepts sales materials that this weave allowed for more beautiful designs within the basket walls.
Tracy took the triangular design structure, not to mention advanced engineering and physics into several other areas of balloon safety and function. He developed his own burners for his balloons, called the T3, a model still in use and manufactured today. His designs went on to increase the safety and reliability of burners, allowing for faster functioning and better maneuverability.
He importantly added yet more maneuverability to his balloons when he included what was basically a parachute housed within the top of the teardrop balloon shape. Te very top of the balloon was leſt open, with the parachute fitting just inside and past the edges, providing an airtight seal. When retracted, the seal would break, allowing for hot air to be easily vented to initiate a decent. When the pilot released the rope, the top would reseal and level flight could continue. Tis made balloons much safer and easier to fly. Prior to the parachute, all balloons had a top that once opened could not be resealed and the balloons would be forced to land.
While Tracy did go on to sell his company (he now owns Blimp Works where he creates and sells unmanned commercial and scientific blimps and airships), he still lives in the Statesville area, is a well-loved local folk hero and is revered by
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