Syracuse NY - Giant balloon known as a "radome" provides a roof for this structure housing radar equipment being built by the General Electric Company for armed forces at the company's Electronics Parks here. The rubber-fabric radome being settled into place will protect the radar antenna from wind, snow, and ice, without hindering its operation. The radome measures 167 feet around and is 36 feet high. When inflated to one-half pounds pressures, it will withstand winds up to 125 miles an hour. The aluminum framework used to raise the balloon lowers into the floor after the radome is inflated to 1/20th of a pound of air pressure. Special infra-red lamps trained on the walls will keep the radome free of ice and snow during the winter. Entrance to the bubble is through an air lock chamber.

General Electric Company1951-07-01