6 years 3 months ago - 6 years 3 months ago #495
by Nikita
January 7, 1785
The French inventor
Jean-Pierre Blanchard
, accompanied by his friend and American patron
John Jeffries
, cross the English Channel from Douvres to Guînes in 2 hours 25 minutes, aboard a balloon inflated with hydrogen.
The flight is dangerous: After making about a third of the crossing, their balloon begins to go down. After the two balloonists have thrown overboard everything they have, the balloon resumes altitude to two-thirds when it starts to go down again. Blanchard and Jeffries must, this time, throw not only the anchor and ropes, but also undress and throw overboard some of their clothes. As their balloon recovers some altitude, they plan to use their last resource, which would be to cut the basket. Finally, as they approach the French coast, the balloon rises at last, describes a magnificent arc over the shore before landing in the forest of Guînes, in the Pas-de-Calais.
Monument in the forest of Guînes, at Blanchard and Jeffries landing spot.
This feat has a resonance throughout Europe and Blanchard travels to many countries to perform balloon flight demonstrations, as well as parachute trials with animals. Blanchard will make a total of sixteen flights in Europe in 1785.
In 1793, during his stay in United-States, he performs his forty-fifth flight which is also the first flight in United-States, between Philadelphia and Woodbury, under the gaze of prestigious witnesses as President-in-Office George Washington and four of his successors who are John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.
In 1808, during his sixty-sixth flight, Blanchard has a heart attack and crashes from heighteen meters high. He will die from his injuries on March 7, 1809. His second wife, Madeleine Sophie Armant, who had accompanied him since 1805, continued the free flight presentations.
She will also lose her life during a flight, in Paris on July 6, 1819, in the fire of her balloon.
Last edit: 6 years 3 months ago by Nikita. Reason: Add John Jeffries link
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