Famous Firsts in Aviation

By hhurley

  • First hydrogen-filled balloon flight.

    First hydrogen-filled balloon flight.
    Jacques A. C. Charles, Paris physicist, supervised construction by A. J. and M. N. Robert of a 13-foot-diameter balloon that was filled with hydrogen. It got up to about 3,000 ft and traveled about 16 mi in a 45-minute flight (Aug. 27)

  • First human balloon flights

    First human balloon flights
    A Frenchman, Jean Piltre de Rozier, made the first captive-balloon ascension (Oct. 15). With the Marquis d'Arlandes, Piltre de Rozier made the first free flight, reaching a peak altitude of about 500 ft, and traveling about 51/2 mi in 20 min. (Nov. 21).

  • First balloon flight by a woman

    First balloon flight by a woman
    Mme. Thible, a French opera singer (June 4).

  • First balloon flight in America

    First balloon flight in America
    Jean Pierre Blanchard, a French pilot, made it from Philadelphia to near Woodbury, N.J., in just over 45 min. (Jan. 9).

  • First parachute jump

    First parachute jump
    Andr-Jacques Garnerin dropped from about 6,500 ft over Monceau Park in Paris in a 23-foot-diameter parachute made of white canvas with a basket attached (Oct. 22).