Flights of Fancy
A short history, or overview, of ballooning
during the Georgian and Regency, eras: together with interesting eye-witness accounts,
to which are added numerous woodcuts and descriptions of the various balloons.
Part 2 :
Viva la France!
Shortly after the first ascent
of “living creatures”, Louis XVI had been talked into allowing a manned flight
for the glory of France. But he did not want any of his worthy subjects to risk
their lives, and so decreed that two criminals condemned to death should be the
first humans to go aloft. The thought enraged Pilâtre de Rozier, who had been
pressing the King to allow him to attempt a manned flight. “Eh Quoi! de vils
criminels auraient les premiers la gloire de s’elever dans les airs! Non, non,
cela ne sera point!’, he exclaimed. His close friend the Marquis d’Arlandes
consulted with the Duchesse de Polignac, governess of the Royal children, who
then persuaded Marie Antoinette to work her wiles on the King. Finally, Louis
XVI gave in and permission was given for both de Rozier and d’Arlandes to ascend
in the first manned flight.
Pilâtre de Rosier
The balloon designed by Etienne Montgolfiére was a visual masterpiece. The lemon shaped globe measured 85 feet high and 48 feet across, and was highly ornamented in classic French style. It was painted blue and decorated in gold with the Royal cipher and the signs of the Zodiac. Beneath its 16 ft in diameter cylindrical neck a wicker balcony 3 feet wide was suspended in which to carry the aeronauts, straw for fuel, pails of water and sponges to extinguish any sparks.
On October 15, 1783, de Rozier and d’Arlandes experimented with the balloon in a “captive” flight, held by ropes, at the Jardin Reveillon in the Faubourg, St.Antoine. They rose to a height of 80 feet and remained aloft for 4 minutes and 35 seconds, whence they returned to earth. After several more tethered ascents, both future aeronauts were confident and ready for their first untethered flight.
This time, instead of ascending from Versailles where the throngs might prove uncontrollable, the great historic event was scheduled to take place at Chateau de la Muette on November 20, 1783 at 2 o’clock. The ascent was not advertised, but word of it spread quickly and a vast multitude gathered to witness history in the making. Unfortunately foul weather was also in the making, and the flight was canceled until the next morning, which proved to have its own hazards. A stiff wind caught the balloon in its preliminary captive ascent and almost caused it to be set afire. Prompt attention and “Providence” saved it from being totally ruined, but there were serious tears in the fabric.
Tension filled the air as the crowd began to grow unruly; but, thanks to a hastily recruited group of seamstresses, the balloon was repaired in two hours and again ready for inflation. It soon filled, and de Rozier and d’Arlandes stepped into opposite sides of the gallery, ready for their date with history. Only moments later, at precisely 1:54 p.m. on November 21, 1783 the balloon rose gently from its stage with the two occupants removing their hats and saluting the awe-struck faces below. A light north-westerly breeze gently carried the balloon toward the Seine and launched de Rozier and d’Arlandes firmly into the rank of heroes.
We have the Marquis d’Arlandes to thank for a complete report of the first manned flight, which lasted only 25 minutes and reached a height of 3,000 ft -- but made an eternal impact on history.
“We went up on the 21st of November, 1783, at near two o’clock, M. Rozier on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind was nearly north-west. The machine, say the public, rose with majesty; but really the position of the balloon altered so that M. Rozier was in the advance of our position, I in the rear.
I was surprised at the silence and absence of movement which our departure caused among the spectators, and believing them to be astonished and perhaps awed at the strange spectacle; they might well have reassured themselves. I was still gazing when M. Rozier cried to me -- “You are doing nothing, and the balloon is scarcely rising a fathom”.
“Pardon me,” I answered, as I placed a bundle of straw upon the fire and slightly stirred it. Then I turned quickly, but already we had passed out of sight of La Muette. Astonished, I cast a glance towards the river. I perceived the confluence of the Oise. And naming the principle bends of the river by places nearest them, I cried, “Passy, St. Germain, St. Denis, Sevres!.’
“If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to bathe in it soon,”, cried Rozier. “Some fire, my dear friend, some fire!”
We travelled on; but instead of crossing the river, as our direction seemed to indicate, we bore towards the Invalides, then turned upon the principal bed of the river, and travelled to above the barrier of La Conference, thus dodging about the river but not crossing it.
“That river is very difficult to cross,” I remarked to my companion.
“So it seems,” he answered; “but you are doing nothing. I suppose it is because you are braver than I and don’t fear a tumble.”
I stirred the fire, I seized a truss of straw with my fork; I raised it and threw it in the midst of the flames. An instant afterwards I felt myself lifted as it were into the heavens.
“For once we move,” said I.
“Yes, we move,” answered my companion.
At the same instant I heard from the top of the balloon a sound which made me believe that it had burst. I watched, yet I saw nothing. My companion had gone into the interior no doubt to make some observations. As my eyes were fixed on the top of the machine I experienced a shock, and it was the only one I had yet felt. The direction of the movement was from above downwards. I then said -- “What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself?”
“I’m not moving.”
“So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will carry us from the river,” I answered. I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the Ecole Militaire and the Invalides.
“We are getting on,” said Rozier.
“Yes, we are travelling.”
“Let us work, let us work.” said he.
I now heard another report in the machine, which I believed was produced by the cracking of a cord. This new intimation made me carefully examine the inside of our habitation. I saw that the part that was turned towards the south was full of holes, of which some were of considerable size.
“It must descend,” I then cried.
“Why?”
“Look!” I said. At the same time I took my sponge and quietly extinguished the little fire that was burning some of the holes within my reach; but at the same moment I perceived that the bottom of the cloth was coming away from the circle that surrounded it. “We must descend,” I repeated to my companion.
He looked below. “We are upon Paris,” he said.
“It does not matter,” I answered, “Only look! Is there no danger? Are you holding on well?”
“Yes.”
I examined from my side, and saw that we had nothing to fear. I then tried with my sponge the ropes which were within my reach. All of them held firm. Only two of the cords had broken. I then said, “We can cross Paris.”
During this operation we were rapidly getting down to the roofs. We made more fire and rose again with the greatest easy. I looked down, and it seemed to me we were going towards the towers of St. Sulpice; but, on rising, a new current made us quit this direction and bear more to the south. I looked to the left, and beheld a wood, which I believed to be that of Luxembourg. We were traversing the boulevard, and I cried all at once -- “Get to ground!”
But the intrepid Rozier, who never lost his head, and who judged more surely than I, prevented me from attempting to descend. I then threw a bundle of straw on the fire. We rose again, and another current bore us to the left. We were now close to the ground, between two mills. As soon as we came near the earth I raised myself over the gallery, and leaning there with my two hands, I felt the balloon pressing softly against my head. I pushed it back, and leapt down to the ground. Looking round and expecting to see the balloon still distended, I was astonished to find it quite empty and flattened. On looking for Rozier I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping out from under the mass of canvass that had fallen over him.
After this ascent, Marie Antoinette called ballooning ‘the sport of the gods’, and it was not long before the ballooning craze invaded England in 1784; then swept all over Europe, with ascents in Holland (July 12, 1785), and Germany (October 3, 1785); to be followed in succession by Belgium, Naples, Madrid, Lisbon in the same year. The list expanded to Switzerland (1788); then Poland and Czechoslovakia (1789). But it was not until 1793 that America witnessed its first balloon flight, when Blanchard made his 45th ascent in Philadelphia on January 19th. George Washington was offered a ride on the occasion, but generously declined.
 |  |
In just a short time, ballooning had become the sensation of the century and British cartoonists were busy spoofing events, showing “Battles of the Balloons” and “Balloon Stands” in the streets of London. Country fairs also got into the act, sporting “roundabout” type balloon rides for children.--and later, even catering to children with miniature balloons. “Flying Fishes” and “Bull Fights in the Air” were envisioned in Spain. And the “French Aerial Navy” was already being proclaimed. Even the fashion industry rose to the occasion with the “balloon” hat, which became popular among the ladies. This was followed by “Balloon dresses” or, “flying skirts” being developed in Vienna.
From an idea taken out of thin air, the aerostatic balloon had now become a reality whose future knew no earthly bounds -- and made imaginations soar.
****
In our next: The British Air Apparent. Or, the flying pastry chef.