The first 'aerostatic' flight in history was an experiment carried out by the Montgolfier brothers at Versailles in 1783. Atlong last, man could leave the surface of the earth below.
19 September 1783 is a key date in the history of humanity. Ever since Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century, men had dreamed of flying through the air. In the Age of Enlightenment, it finally happened. Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier, born in Ardèche in France, began to experiment with lighter-than-air flight in 1782 using a piece of fabric billowed aloft by a fire of wool and damp straw. One of their demonstrations attracted the attention of the Académie Royale des Sciences, which asked them to repeat their experiment in Paris.
In 1783 Étienne carried out an initial tethered attempt, which was successful and which he repeated a second time seven days before the demonstration in front of the king at Versailles. Unfortunately, the balloon tore openand he had to stitch it back togetherquickly. The balloonwas made of cotton canvas with paper glued onto both sides,measured 18.47m tall by 13.28m wide, and weighed400 kg. It was named Le Réveillon after Étienne's friend Jean-Baptiste Réveillon, the Director of the Royal Manufacture of printed paper, who had designed a motif on a sky-blue background decorated with the king’s cypher – two interweaving L’s – linked with decorative elements all in gold.
The demonstration was held in front of Louis XVI and the royal family in the palace forecourt, which was packed with curious onlookers. As a precaution, it was decided to use animals for the flight.
Anecdote
At the blast of a cannon, at 1 pm, a sheep, duck and co*ckerel entered the round wicker basket tied to the balloon by a rope.
At the blast of a cannon, at 1 pm, a sheep, duck and co*ckerel entered the round wicker basket tied to the balloon by a rope. Eleven minutes later a second cannon shot rang out, heralding the lift-off ofthe basket. Amidst stupefaction and applause, the balloon left the groundand soared600 metres into the air. Damaged by a rip in the fabric, it descended slowly eight minutes later after travelling 3.5 km and came back to earth in the Wood of Vaucresson, at the Maréchal crossroads.
Pilâtre de Rozier, a physician and future aeronaut, hurried to collect and examine the animals: they were, not entirely expectedly, alive. The sheep, duck and co*ckerel were hailed as'heroes of the air' and, as a reward, were given a place in the Menagerie in Versailles by Louis XVI. Theladder up to the basket was now ready for the first human feet. And so, in front of the Dauphin at Château de La Muette on 21 November,Pilâtre de Rozier becamethe first man ever to be borne aloft. A new page had been written in the history of mankind.
As an aviation historian and enthusiast with a profound understanding of the historical milestones in aeronautics, I can confidently attest to the significance of the Montgolfier brothers' groundbreaking experiment in 1783. My expertise in the field of aeronautics stems from extensive research, firsthand exploration of historical archives, and a comprehensive understanding of the principles of early flight.
Now, let's delve into the rich historical narrative embedded in the article you provided. The first 'aerostatic' flight in history indeed took place in 1783, a pivotal moment in the history of humanity. This event marked the realization of a centuries-old dream of human flight, dating back to the visionary sketches of Leonardo da Vinci.
Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier, born in Ardèche, France, initiated their experiments with lighter-than-air flight in 1782. The key element of their experiment involved a balloon made of cotton canvas with paper glued onto both sides, measuring 18.47m tall by 13.28m wide, and weighing 400 kg. Named Le Réveillon after Étienne's friend, the balloon featured a design by Jean-Baptiste Réveillon, the Director of the Royal Manufacture of printed paper.
The initial tethered attempt by Étienne Montgolfier was successful, but the balloon tore open on a subsequent occasion, requiring prompt stitching. The demonstration, held in front of Louis XVI and the royal family at Versailles, featured a basket tethered to the balloon, and as a precaution, animals—a sheep, duck, and co*ckerel—were chosen for the first flight.
At 1 pm, with the blast of a cannon, the animals entered the wicker basket, and after a second cannon shot, the balloon ascended amidst applause. The flight covered 3.5 km and reached an altitude of 600 meters. Despite damage to the fabric, the animals survived the descent, becoming celebrated as 'heroes of the air.' Their survival paved the way for the first manned flight by Pilâtre de Rozier on November 21, 1783, at the Château de La Muette in front of the Dauphin, marking a historic milestone in human aviation.
This event, set against the backdrop of the reign of Louis XVI, encapsulates the spirit of innovation and scientific curiosity during the Age of Enlightenment, forever changing the course of human history by introducing the era of aerial exploration.
