"Ballooning mirrors the entire two hundred year history of science and technology in miniature. Geneticists study tiny creatures such as fruit flies because they are easier to understand. Similarly the history of ballooning is simple enough to allow fascinating insights into the relationship between human nature, intellectual courage, physical daring and technological advance." Julian Nott
| The Montgolfiers' first unmanned hot air balloon flight at Annonay, France, 1783. The Montgolfiers were the first to "push the envelope", make a small flight, then a bigger one, pushing out a little at a time. This has been a fundamental part of prudent flight development ever since. While this balloon was little more than a toy, it was a tiny but crucial first step.
"Even the Journey To The Stars begins with a single step" ™ Julian Nott Picture Time-Life Books |
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In 1783, Pilatre de Rozier made the first flight of any kind using the Montgolfiers' balloon. As the start of aviation, this was the most important balloon ascent ever. It was also an extraordinary act of intellectual courage. Englishman Henry Cavendish and Frenchman Professor Charles had proposed balloon flight several years before. But no one had the courage to invade the territory of birds and angels until the Montgolfiers led the way. In keeping with "The Age of Enlightenment" they understood the philosophy of Immanuel Kant when he said, in that same year: "Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own understanding: that is the meaning of enlightenment!" | |
| Professor Piccard's flight to 51,770 feet in 1931 was second in importance only to the Montgolfiers'. This, too, was a huge act of intellectual courage. Piccard invented a new type of balloon that was also the world's first pressurized aircraft. Many thought the flight was impossible: the Germans refused a certificate of airworthiness. But Piccard made his plans, trusted his life to his calculations and took off. His flight opened the way for the famous Explorer, Stratolab and Man High flights, some of the many stepping stones on the way to space. |  |
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On September 15, 1804, Joseph Gay-Lussac reached what he believed was 23,000 feet. For much of the 19th century, as late as Glaisher and Coxwell's famous ascent, balloonists overestimated altitudes and he probably did not reach this level, but he certainly flew higher than Mont Blanc, 15,770 feet. As far as history records, the highest altitudes have been achieved in just three ways; by climbers, balloonists and rocket-ship pilots. Mont Blanc was climbed in 1786. After Gay-Lussac's flight bettered this height, balloons were the ultimate way to journey towards heaven for the next 150 years. The outright altitude record was only taken from balloons by the Bell X-2 in 1956. [Chuck Yaeger broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1] Gay-Lussac's measurements and observations represent the start of scientific ballooning. |
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| One of Julian Nott's most treasured possessions is this contemporary watercolor of Charles Green's "Great Nassau Balloon," shown here landing in South East England in 1835. The next year, Green, the greatest balloonist of the period, flew it an extraordinary 380 miles from London to Nassau, Germany.
Nott regards the flight to Nassau as the first, serious, record-breaking balloon flight. |
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Ed Yost made the first modern, hot air balloon flight, October 22, 1960, at Bruning, Nebraska. Although the Montgolfiers' balloon was filled with hot air, almost all flights for the next two centuries used hydrogen, coal gas or helium filled balloons.
At the time of Yost's flight, ballooning was described as "The Rarest Sport": there were only about 50 balloons in the world. But he changed all that! While it has never become a mass sport, participation has increased enormously and continues to grow all over the world. Photo James A Winker |
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| The sudden renaissance of hot air ballooning triggered by Yost, also led to a revival of interest in other types, particularly helium balloons. This too, was spearheaded by Ed Yost who did more to create modern ballooning than any other single individual. Yost is seen here in 1976 launching an attempt to cross the Atlantic in the balloon "Silver Fox" which he designed and built including the catamaran gondola. Despite the minute 60,000 cubic foot volume he almost succeeded, touching down near the Canary Islands. With access to contemporary forecasting he would surely have succeeded.
Photo National Geographic |
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Ed Yost then built larger, but otherwise almost identical balloons and catamaran gondolas, for Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson. They attempted the Atlantic in 1977 with a near disastrous ditching near Iceland. Undeterred, in 1978 they traveled from Maine to France in a historic 137 hour flight. This dramatic success energized a whole generation of balloonists. The Pacific was soon crossed by Ben Abruzzo and attempts to fly around the world started immediately. While it took twenty years until it was achieved, world attempts were directly inspired by these Atlantic fights.
Right: Double Eagle II carrying Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson approaches England. Photo National Geographic |
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