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Today in Aviation History 7 January 1785, the English Channel is crossed for the 1st time “by air” in a hydrogen balloon! (231 years ago today)

7 January 1785 (England/France) — The English Channel is crossed for the first time by air as pioneering aviators Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries fly their hydrogen balloon. The first flight over the English Channel took about 2½ hours to travel from England to France on, flying from Dover Castle to Guînes. Blanchard was awarded a substantial pension by Louis XVI.
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Blanchard Channel Flight

“Through The Air To Calais or The Wonderful Cruise Of Blanchard’s Balloon” Movie Trailer. (above)

 

Blanchard toured Europe, demonstrating his balloons. He holds the record of first balloon flights in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. Among the events that included demonstrations of his abilities as a balloonist was the coronation of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II as King of Bohemia in Prague in September 1791. On 9 January 1793, Blanchard conducted the first balloon flight in the Americas.

Jean-Pierre-Blanchard-John-Jeffries
He launched his balloon from the prison yard of Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and landed in Deptford, Gloucester County, New Jersey. One of the flight’s witnesses that day was President George Washington, and the future presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe were also present. Blanchard left the United States in 1797.
Squadron Posters salutes these true adventurers and pioneers of aviation!

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