September
17,1783 ~ Joseph and Ettienne Montgolfier launch first passenger
hot air balloon flight with a sheep, duck and rooster.
November
21, 1783 ~ The first recorded balloon flight by man took place
in Paris. The balloon was piloted on a 25 minute flight by two noblemen
from the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The balloon acended
500 feet above the roof tops, before landing five miles away. Upon
landing, the pilots began the tradition of offering champagne to celebrate
the occassion.
January
19, 1784 ~ Only recorded flight by Joseph Montgolfier was made
in Lyon, France. The ballon was the largest ever made at the time,
holding seven passengers.
September
15, 1784 ~ Vincenzo Lunardi of Italy made first balloon flight
outside of France. The 500 cubic metre balloon flew from Moorfield
in England and landed near Ware.
November
30, 1784 ~ Frenchman, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John
Jeffries team up for their first flight from Rhedarium Garden, London.
January
5, 1785 ~ Pilatre de Rozier killed trying to fly over English
Channel in a hybrid designed balloon.
January
7, 1785 ~ Team of Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries became
the first successful flight over the English Channel.
January 9, 1793 ~ Jean-Pierre Blanchard pilotted the first balloon
flight in North America. The flight took place in Philadelphia, in
front of a crowd that included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison,
James Munroe and President George Washington.
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