Further milestones History of ballooning

ascent of monsieur bouclé s montgolfier balloon in gardens of aranjuez, june 1784



balloon landing in mashgh square, iran (persia), @ time of nasser al-din shah qajar, around 1850.

the next great challenge fly across english channel, feat accomplished on january 7, 1785 jean-pierre blanchard.

the first aircraft disaster occurred in may 1785 when town of tullamore, county offaly, ireland damaged when crash of balloon resulted in fire burned down 100 houses, making town home world s first aviation disaster. day, town shield depicts phoenix rising ashes.

blanchard went on make first manned flight of balloon in america on january 10, 1793. hydrogen-filled balloon took off prison yard in philadelphia, pennsylvania. flight reached 5,800 feet (1,770 m) , landed in gloucester county, new jersey. president george washington among guests observing takeoff.

gas balloons became common type 1790s until 1960s.

balloonists sought means control balloon s direction. first steerable balloon (also known dirigible) flown henri giffard in 1852. powered steam engine, slow effective. heavier air flight, internal combustion engine made dirigibles—especially blimps—practical, starting in late 19th century. in 1872 paul haenlein flew first (tethered) internal combustion motor-powered balloon. first fly in untethered airship powered internal combustion engine alberto santos dumont in 1898.

on 3 july 2002, steve fossett became first person fly around world alone, nonstop, in kind of aircraft, hot air balloon. launched balloon spirit of freedom northam, western australia on 19 june 2002 , returned australia on 3 july 2002, subsequently landing in queensland. duration , distance of solo balloon flight 13 days, 8 hours, 33 minutes (14 days 19 hours 50 minutes landing), 20,626.48 statute miles (33,195.10 km). trip set number of records ballooning: fastest (200 miles per hour (320 km/h), breaking own previous record of 166 miles per hour (270 km/h)), fastest around world (13.5 days), longest distance flown solo in balloon (20,482.26 miles (32,963.00 km)), , 24-hour balloon distance (3,186.80 miles (5,128.66 km) on july 1).