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    History of the Hot Air Balloon

    By Brian on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 | No Comments

    A ride in a hot air balloon can be an exhilarating and refreshing way of bringing new perspective to your life. However, the idea of being suspended in the air by a thin-looking skein and wicker basket is admittedly peculiar. Have you ever thought about the history behind this odd, graceful looking contraption?

    The hot air balloon was the first flight technology capable of carrying passengers. Unmanned balloons have been used in China since 220 AD as military signals. The first recorded flight was undertaken by a Portuguese priest, Bartolomeu de Gusmão in 1709, who was lifted about four meters off the ground by a small balloon. While calling this a flight may technically be a stretch, it was an impressive feat for its time.

    It wasn’t until 1783 Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes took the first flight above Paris, France, launching from the Champs de Mars and landing approximately 21 km away. The French peasants were so frightened by the spectacle of the balloon that they rushed to attack it with knives and pitchforks. They were allegedly pacified when the pilots gave them a bottle of champagne.

    Ballooning quickly took off as a competitive sport among fans attempting to set distant and height records. In 1785, Jean Pierre Blanchard and John Jefferies flew a balloon across the English Channel, establishing it as a safe vehicle for long distance travel.  On January 7, 1793, Blanchard became the first person to operate hot balloon rides in America.

    Since that time, the popularity of hot air ballooning has literally soared. Besides recreation, balloons have been used in military and commercial applications. Today, a number of festivals are dedicated to ballooners, such as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. Spectators merely have to look out of their windows to enjoy these colorful pieces of floating history.

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    Aviation History – Looking Back at One of Man’s Greatest Accomplishments

    By Brian on Monday, January 9th, 2012 | No Comments

    As early man watched birds in flight, he probably dreamed of taking to the air himself. The notion of harnessing hot air to achieve buoyancy may have been the first realization by aviation pioneers that flight could actually work.  Hot air balloons have a lengthy history extending back to China, where they were used as hot air lanterns for military communication.

    The first untethered hot air balloon ride is recorded as having taken place in 1783 in Paris, France.  King Louis XIV decided that the best people to pilot the trial balloons would be condemned criminals. However, two men persuaded the King to let them go instead.  They were Marquis Francois d’Arlandes and scientist Jean-Francois de Rozier. The first casualty of aviation occurred in a hot air balloon that crashed in June 1785, when de Rozier and a companion died while trying to cross the English Channel.

    The hot air balloons of today are a spectacular site to see. They come in many shapes other than just the typical balloon. Hot air balloon competitions are called races, but the main focus is on accuracy rather than speed. Enthusiasts love to display and race their balloons at annual balloon festivals. These hot air balloon events are extremely popular with people all over the world.

    Of course, we attribute the very first controlled and sustained heavier-than-air powered flight to the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur. However, it is important to remember that people had been attracted to the notion of flight centuries before the two brothers finally made their dreams a reality. We have some brave pioneers to thank for the tremendous strides that have been made in aviation. Through often dangerous experimentation, they led the way to the accomplishments we see today.

    Over the last century there have been continuous advancements in aviation. We give thanks to the early aviation pioneers who, with their thought and vision, brought us such advancements as hot air balloons, airplanes, and spacecraft.  We eagerly await the future progress of aviation.

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    The Atlantic Challenge Took Place In 1978. After Unsuccessful Attempts By Many

    By Brian on Monday, January 2nd, 2012 | No Comments

    The first hot air balloon took flight in 1783. The passengers were anything but ordinary – a duck, a sheep, and a rooster. They remained in the air for 15 minutes, and then crashed to the ground. Various attempts took place over the next few years from difference sources. They flight time slowly increased as changes were made to the design.

    In 1785, two men flew across the English Channel in a hot air balloon. The next man who attempted this feat the same year was killed when his balloon exploded. He had experimented with a hydrogen balloon tied to a hot air balloon. Small changes continued to take place as time progressed.

    The Atlantic Challenge took place in 1978. After unsuccessful attempts by many, three men successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon. The flight took 137 hours to complete. Three years later, the Pacific Ocean was successfully crossed. That flight took 84 hours to complete.

    As technology progressed, the challenge of hot air balloons took on a bigger risk. The first complete flight around the world was done in 1999. The flight lasted just short of 20 days.

    Hot air balloon festivals take place throughout the world each year. The many mixtures of gas and helium allows many to float across the sky with ease. Hot air balloons of a simple balloon with a basket are a unique part of history. Now, hot air balloons come in every shape and size. Some of my favorites are the cow and the beer bottle!

    Ironically, the history of the hot air balloon has come back to its roots. The first balloonists burned materials to generate heat to move the balloon. Gas and helium replaced that practice. In the past 30 years, many balloonists have chosen to burn materials in flight.

     

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    Balloons, dirigibles and Great Airship History

    By Brian on Thursday, September 8th, 2011 | No Comments

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    “The history of the world , Blimps, and the Great Aircraft “Over 500 scenes were derived from old photographs, period films and art films, to build a chronology of events. The documentary covers the 19 experiments of the century, the Civil War, the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation, the World War I and World War II. Film recording of the Gordon Bennett Balloon Race Balloon WJR radio show and other entries Michigan globe. 42 minutes more previews of the story. Available www.michiganhistoryvideos.com
    Video Rating: 4.5

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