History by pictures
Collection Paul Tissandier.

The Gonnesse dance
The balloons have been invented from Joseph Marie Montgolfier during a stay to Avignone near one of its aunts, the 5 of November of 1782, day when it had one first experience. Then, after some private attempts with his brother Etienne, publicly launched a great hot air balloon, June 5 th 1783, to Annonay.
The news, arrived to Paris, it caused a long live feeling and, through a signature opened by Faujas de Saint-Fond to repeat the experience, the physical Charles and his brother Robert they built a ball in gummed silk. This first ball to "inflammable air" (hydrogen) was launched by the "Campo di Marte" August 27 th 1783 in presence of a considerable crowd. It fell, three quarters of now later, to Gonnesse, where the inhabitants picked it up for a demon and they did asunder it. The "Contre-Danse de Gonnesse" is an allusion to this event.
Now doesn't speak more than of balls and Etienne Montgolfier, summoned from the academy of the Sciences, it launched September 19 th 1783, in presence of the king and the queen, to Versaille, one "hot-air balloon" with on board a ram, a rooster and a duck, that will land without drawbacks to Vancresson.

The big Flesselles
Joseph Montgolfier built to Lione, toward the end of 1783, an hot air balloon that remained for a lot of years the greatest experimented free ball. This immense hot-air balloon also had a superior volume to 23.000 meters cubes being built with material very summary.
Took off January 19 th 1784, bringing Joseph Montgolfier, Pilatre de Roziere, that was seen sat on the edge of the nacelle, the prince Charles de Ligne, the counts of Laurencin, of Dampierre, of Laporte of Anglefort and Á.: Fontaine.
After a few minutes appeared on the fabric a great vertical tear and the ball it quickly came down. Despite the violence of the landing, the aeronauts went out only from there with some bruise.
At evening was given in them honor a fantastic reception.

Collection Paul Tissandier.

The triumph of Lunardi
Lunardi, secretary of the embassy of Italy in Rome, was the first one to effect an ascension in England.
Took-off from London September 15 th 1784, in presence of a considerable crowd that quickly passed from the incredulity to the most alive enthusiasm, come down in the Middlesex after an intermediary port.
Lunardi continued his career of aeronaut effecting, up to 1802, numerous trips, of which many finished with descents in sea, departing from London, from Scotland, from Italy, from Portugal from Spain.
He died in the hospital in Seville in 1806.

Collection Paul Tissandier.


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