Who flew in a hot air balloon. History of Aeronautics. Professor Charles's invention
On April 25, 1783, in the French town of Annoe, the first balloon with a diameter of 11 m, a volume of 800 m3 and a weight of 200 kg, pulled upward by heated air, took off into the air. He rose 400 m. It’s not hard to guess what a sensation it was! But the Montgolfier brothers, the creators of this ball, didn’t stop there and came up with the completely impossible: they attached a passenger basket to the ball! And in the same 1783, in Versailles, in the presence of King Louis 16, the first ever flight of living creatures into the air took place: a ram, a rooster and a duck. The balloon took off, rose 600 m and 8 minutes later landed nearby to the roar of the public. This is how animals became the first balloonists, and man took to the air for the first time in a hot air balloon only on November 21. Here are the names of the first testers? Physicist Jean de Rosier and Marquis d'Arlandes. They flew on a hot air balloon (as the balloon was already called) and flew as much as 8 km.
In 1731, in Ryazan, the clerk Kryakutny designed a hot air balloon and was the first person to take it into the air. So says Bolshaya Soviet encyclopedia in the second edition (vol. 1 p.91).
In Sulukadzev’s manuscript “On air flight in Russia since 906 AD.” this story with Kryakutny is presented as follows: “...furvin made him like a big ball, blew it up with foul and stinking smoke, made a noose from it, sat in it and the evil spirit lifted him higher than a birch tree, and then hit him against the bell tower, but he clung to rope, than they call, and remained alive. They kicked him out of the city, he went to Moscow, and they wanted to bury him alive in the ground or burn him.” The same manuscript contains reports of flights using homemade wings of the clerk Ostrovkov, the blacksmith Chernaya Groza and others. Sulukadzev, in support of the facts he cites, refers to the notes of Bogolepov and governor Voeikov, but neither one nor the other has so far been found. Sulukadzev’s manuscript dates back to 1819.
In the book of Academician D.S. Likhachev “Textology” (AS..USSR, 1962) it is indicated that Kryakutny’s flight in a hot air balloon is a fake by the forger A. Sulukadzev. The fake was discovered by researcher V. Pokrovskaya.
Other sources refer to the falsification of Tatishchev, who allegedly forged and “cleaned up” a number of historical documents, protecting Kryakutny’s championship.
It is somewhat alarming that there are a number of diverse sources that “expose”, “expose” the story of Kryakutny. In particular, some of them talk about... distortion of the name of the first aeronaut. Others claim that someone else was first. In Western sources, this version prevails: the French were the first to take off in the balloon of the Montgolfier brothers in 1783. In the story with Kryakutny there is still an ellipsis...
People have always dreamed of mastering the airspace. Thinking about this now, we cannot even imagine how significant the event was then - the first flight in a hot air balloon. This event occurred on November 21, 1783. It was on that significant day that a balloon filled with hot air rose into the air from a castle called de la Muette (a place in the western part of Paris). Then the balloon rose into the air to a height of 915 meters. The flight lasted 25 minutes. During this time, the balloonists covered a distance of 9 km. The landing was quite soft and occurred not far from the road to Fontainebleau, and in an open area. The people who gave life to the balloon (the Montgolfier brothers) were prohibited from taking part in the first flight. Then Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois d'Arland agreed to such a socially significant matter. Little known fact- this was the second ball of the inventors of Montgolfier. It is larger than the first one (almost 23 meters in height, 15 meters in diameter). At the bottom of the ball there was a ring gallery designed for two people.
The Montgolfier brothers: on the left – Joseph, on the right – Etienne (19th century engraving). At the time of the first public demonstration of their balloon, Joseph was 43 years old and Etienne was 38 years old. Etienne's image was copied from a portrait by his daughter.
The first public demonstration of the flight of a balloon filled with hot air is presented in the engraving in a somewhat fantastic form. The experiment was carried out by brothers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier on June 4, 1783 in Annonay (France). The ball was a spherical linen bag covered with paper, had a diameter of 11 m and weighed 227 kg. It was filled with hot air over the fire. The flight lasted 10 minutes.
The first manned flight in a hot air balloon took place in Paris on November 21, 1783. The intricately painted balloon, built by the Montgolfier brothers, was 14 meters across and more than 21 meters high. The basket with two passengers, Pilatre de Rosier and the Marquis d'Arlandes, weighed about 730 kg. It is generally accepted that this is the view from the terrace of Benjamin Franklin's house in Passy.
"PASSAROLA" LORENZO GUZMAO
Among the pioneers of aeronautics, whose names have not been forgotten by history, but whose scientific achievements remained unknown or questioned for centuries, says the Brazilian Bartolommeo Lorenzo.
This is his real name, and he entered the history of aeronautics as a Portuguese priest Lorenzo Guzmao, author of the Passarola project, which until recently was perceived as pure fantasy. After a lengthy search in 1971, it was possible to find documents that shed light on the events of the distant past
These events began in 1708, when, having moved to Portugal, Lorenzo Guzmao entered the university in Coimbra and was inspired by the idea of building an aircraft. Having shown extraordinary abilities in the study of physics and mathematics, he began with what is the basis of any endeavor: with experiment. He built several models that became prototypes of the planned vessel.
In August 1709, the models were demonstrated to the highest royal nobility. One of the demonstrations was successful: a thin egg-shaped shell with a small brazier suspended underneath, heating the air, rose almost four meters from the ground. In the same year, Guzmao began implementing the Passarola project. History has no information about her test. But in any case, Lorenzo Guzmao was the first person who, based on the study of physical phenomena of nature, was able to identify a real method of aeronautics and tried to implement it in practice.
THE INVENTION OF JOSEPH MONTGOLFIER
“Hurry up and prepare more silk fabric and ropes, and you will see one of the most amazing things in the world,” I received this note in 1782 Etienne Montgolfier, owner of a paper factory in a small French town, from his older brother Joseph. The message meant that at last something had been found that the brothers had talked about more than once during their meetings: a means by which one could rise into the air.
This means turned out to be a shell filled with smoke. As a result of a simple experiment, J. Montgolfier saw how a fabric shell, sewn in the shape of a box from two pieces of fabric, after filling it with smoke, rushed upward. Joseph's discovery also captivated his brother. Now working together, they built two more aerostatic machines (that’s what they called their balloons). One of them, made in the form of a ball with a diameter of 3.5 meters, was demonstrated among family and friends.
It was a complete success - the shell stayed in the air for about 10 minutes, rising to a height of almost 300 meters and flying through the air for about a kilometer. Inspired by their success, the brothers decided to show the invention to the general public. They built a huge balloon with a diameter of more than 10 meters. Its shell, made of canvas, was reinforced with rope mesh and covered with paper to increase impermeability.
The balloon demonstration took place in the city market square June 5, 1783 in the presence large number spectators. A ball filled with smoke rushed upward. A special protocol, signed by officials, documented all the details of the experiment. Thus, for the first time, the invention was officially certified, which opened the way aeronautics.
THE INVENTION OF PROFESSOR CHARLES
The Montgolfier brothers' balloon flight aroused great interest in Paris. The Academy of Sciences invited them to repeat their experience in the capital. At the same time, the young French physicist professor Jacques Charles was ordered to prepare and demonstrate their aircraft. Charles was sure that hot air balloon gas, as the smoky air was then called, was not the best means for creating aerostatic lift.
He was well acquainted with latest discoveries in the field of chemistry and believed that the use of hydrogen would provide much greater benefits, since it is lighter than air. But having chosen hydrogen to fill the aircraft, Charles faced a number of technical problems. First of all, what to make a lightweight shell from that can hold volatile gas for a long time.
The mechanics, the Robey brothers, helped him cope with this problem. They made the material of the required qualities using light silk fabric coated with a solution of rubber in turpentine. On August 27, 1783, Charles's flying machine took off from the Champ de Mars in Paris. In front of 300 thousand spectators, he rushed upward and soon became invisible. When one of those present exclaimed: “What is the point of all this?!” - famous American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin, who was among the spectators, remarked: “What is the point of bringing a newborn into the world?” The remark turned out to be prophetic. A “newborn” was born, who was destined for a great future.
FIRST AIR PASSENGERS
The successful flight of Charles's balloon did not stop the Montgolfier brothers from their intention to take advantage of the offer of the Academy of Sciences and demonstrate a balloon of their own design in Paris. In an effort to make the greatest impression, Etienne used all his talent; it was not for nothing that he was also considered an excellent architect. Built by him balloon was in a sense a work of art. Its shell, more than 20 meters high, had an unusual barrel-shaped shape and was decorated on the outside with monograms and colorful ornaments.
The balloon demonstrated to official representatives of the Academy of Sciences aroused such admiration among them that it was decided to repeat the display in the presence of the royal court. The demonstration took place at Versailles (near Paris) on September 19, 1783. True, the balloon, which aroused the admiration of French academics, did not live to see this day: its shell was washed away by rain, and it became unusable. However, this did not stop the Montgolfier brothers. Working day and night, they built a ball by the scheduled date, which was not inferior in beauty to the previous one.
To create an even greater effect, the brothers attached a cage to the balloon, where they put ram, duck and rooster. These were the first passengers in the history of aeronautics. The balloon took off from the platform and rushed upward, and eight minutes later, having traveled a distance of four kilometers, it safely landed on the ground. The Montgolfier brothers became the heroes of the day, were awarded awards, and all balloons that used smoky air to create lift were from that day called hot air balloons.
THE FIRST MAN FLIGHT IN A HOT GOLFIER
Each flight of the Montgolfier brothers' balloons brought them closer to their cherished goal - human flight. The new ball they built was larger: height 22.7 meters, diameter 15 meters. In its lower part there was a ring gallery, designed for two people. In the middle of the gallery there was a fireplace for burning crushed straw. Being under a hole in the shell, it radiated heat, which warmed the air inside the shell during flight.
This made it possible to make the flight longer and, to some extent, controllable. King Louis XVI of France forbade the authors of the project to take personal part in the flight. Such a life-threatening task, in his opinion, should have been entrusted to two criminals sentenced to death penalty. But this caused violent protests Pilatra de Rosier, an active participant in the construction of the hot air balloon.
He could not come to terms with the idea that the names of some criminals would go down in the history of aeronautics, and insisted on personally participating in the flight. Permission was received. Another “pilot” was aeronautics fan Marquis d'Arland. And on November 21, 1783, man was finally able to get off the ground and take flight in the air. The hot air balloon stayed in the air for 25 minutes, flying about nine kilometers.
FIRST MAN FLIGHT ON CHARLIÉRE
In an effort to prove that the future of aeronautics belongs to charliers (the so-called balloons with shells filled with hydrogen), and not to hot air balloons, Professor Charles understood that for this it was necessary to carry out a flight of people on a charlier, and more spectacular than the flight of the Montgolfier brothers. While creating the new balloon, he developed a number of design solutions that were then used for many decades.
The charlier he built had a mesh that covered the upper hemisphere of the balloon shell, and slings with which a gondola for people was suspended from this mesh. A special vent was made in the shell to allow hydrogen to escape when the external pressure dropped. To control the flight altitude, a special valve in the shell and ballast stored in the nacelle were used. An anchor was also provided to facilitate landing on the ground.
On December 1, 1783, the charlier, with a diameter of more than nine meters, took off in the Tuileries Park. Professor Charles and one of the Robert brothers, who took an active part in the construction of the Charliers, went on it. Having flown 40 kilometers, they landed safely near a small village. Charles then continued his journey alone.
Charlier flew five kilometers, climbing to an unprecedented height for that time - 2750 meters. After staying in the sky-high heights for about half an hour, the researcher landed safely, thus completing the first flight in the history of aeronautics in a balloon with a shell filled with hydrogen.
AEROSTAT OVER THE English Channel
Life of a French Mechanic Jean Pierre Blanchard, who made the first balloon flight across the English Channel, is notable for being a vivid illustration of a turning point in the development of aeronautics at the end of the 18th century. Blanchard began by implementing the idea of flapping flight.
In 1781, he built an apparatus whose wings were driven by the force of his arms and legs. Testing this apparatus suspended on a rope thrown over a pulley, the inventor rose to the height of the roof of a multi-story building with a counterweight of only 10 kilograms. Delighted by the success, he published in the newspaper his thoughts on the possibility of flapping human flight.
Air travel made on the first balloons, and then the search for means of controlling their movement, again returned Blanchard to the idea of wings, this time as a control for the balloon. Although Blanchard's first trip in a balloon with winged oars ended unsuccessfully, he did not give up his attempts and became more and more interested in rising into the heavenly expanse. Blanchard began performing public flight demonstrations.
When his flights in England began in the fall of 1784, he had the idea of flying in a balloon across English Channel, thereby proving the possibility of air communication between England and France. This historic flight, in which Blanchard and his friend the American doctor Jeffrey participated, took place on January 7, 1785.
A LIFE DEVOTED TO AERONAUTATION
The history of aeronautics has been a history of not only victories, but also defeats, and sometimes dramatic fates. An example of this is the life of Pilatre de Rosier. A physicist by training, he was one of the first to understand the true significance of Joseph Montgolfier's invention.
Rosier persistently put forward the idea of manned aeronautics, repeatedly declaring his personal readiness to fly in a hot air balloon. Persistence and courage led to triumph: Rosier became the first aeronaut pilot, making a twenty-minute flight in a hot air balloon together with the Marquis d'Arland on November 21, 1783. At his suggestion, the design of the hot air balloon, which was built in 1783 in the city of Lyon for a flight demonstration, was changed.
In the new version, the balloon was designed to lift twelve people into the air. And although the Lyon hot air balloon lifted only seven people into the air and touched the ground again 15 minutes later, it was the first flight of a multi-seat balloon in the history of aeronautics. Rosier then sets a new record. In a hot air balloon flight with the chemist Proulx, he reaches a height of 4000 meters. Having achieved this success, Rozier returns to the idea of long-haul flights.
Now his goal is to fly across the English Channel. He is developing a balloon of his own design, combining a conventional spherical balloon and a cylindrical hot air balloon. The combined balloon became known as a rosier. But fate was clearly not kind to Pilatrou de Rosier. Having taken off on June 15, 1785, together with his assistant Romain, Rosier did not even have time to fly to the English Channel. A fire that broke out on the rosier led to the tragic death of both balloonists.
FROM DREAM TO PROFESSION
Attempts to implement controlled movement of balloons, undertaken in France in the early years of the development of aeronautics, did not yield positive results. And the interest of the general public in demonstration flights gradually turned aeronautics into a special type of spectacular event.
But in 1793, that is, ten years after the first flights of people in balloons, their area was discovered practical application. French physicist Guiton de Morveau proposed the use of tethered balloons to lift observers into the air. This idea was expressed at a time when the enemies of the Great french revolution tried to strangle her.
The technical development of the tethered balloon project was entrusted to the physicist Coutell. He successfully completed the task, and in October 1793 the balloon was sent to the army for field testing, and in April 1794 a decree was issued on the organization of the first aeronautical company French army. Cutelle was appointed its commander.
The appearance of tethered balloons over positions French troops stunned the enemy: rising to a height of 500 meters, observers could look far into the depths of his defense. Intelligence data was transmitted to the ground in special boxes, which were lowered along a cord attached to the gondola.
After the victory of the French troops, the National Aeronautical School was created by the decision of the Convention. Although it lasted only five years, a start had been made: aeronautics became a profession.
AERONAUTATION IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
For the first time in Russia, a balloon flight without passengers lasting 6 hours was carried out by Frenchman Minel March 30, 1784, which aroused great interest among the Russian population. But already on April 15, 1784 in Russia Catherine II signed " Decree banning the launch of balloons from March 12 to December 12(under penalty of paying a fine of 20 rubles)", that is, in the warm season due to possible danger occurrence of fires.
At Alexandra I The idea arose to arm the Russian army with balloons. However, it did not progress further than test flights. And the first Russian balloonist was staff doctor Kashinsky, who in October 1805 independently flew in a hot air balloon. Researchers also mention a certain Moscow bourgeois Ilyinskaya, who in August 1828 took to the air in a balloon of her own design. But her origin played a cruel joke on her: aeronautics was still considered a noble privilege, and therefore she did not become a heroine of her time. History has not preserved her first name or patronymic, nor her biography. There were also casualties: in 1847, the aeronaut Lede died, whose balloon was blown into Lake Ladoga by the wind.
On December 3, 1870, the Russian Aeronautics Society was created. And after five years Dmitriy Mendeleev At a meeting of the Russian Physical and Chemical Society, he proposed his project of a balloon with a hermetically sealed gondola for high-altitude flights. In 1880, on his initiative, an aeronautical department was created at the Russian Technical Society. In addition to Mendeleev, Alexander Radishchev, Ilya Repin, Lev Tolstoy, Viktor Vasnetsov and many others showed their interest in flying in the sky. And in February 1885, in St. Petersburg on Volkovo Pole, a Cadre Military Aeronautics Team was organized, which conducted military exercises using balloons.
The 20th century democratized flight to the greatest extent possible. Including in Russian Empire. A specialized magazine and flying club appeared. The first All-Russian Aeronautics Festival took place in 1910, and the All-Union Aeronautical Competitions took place in 1924.
From the history of aeronautics:
In chapter Gold Fund to the question Who was the first to fly in a hot air balloon? given by the author Twilight the best answer is The first hot air balloon was built by two French brothers named Montgolfier. On June 5, 1783, they launched their balloon for the first time. In order to heat the air in the balloon, they built a fire near its shell. When the warm air filled it, the brothers cut off the ropes holding the balloon, and it rose up several hundred meters.
Among living creatures, the first to rise into the air were a rooster, a duck and a lamb. The Montgolfier brothers put them in a basket attached to a balloon with ropes, and, filling the shell with warm air, lifted the balloon into the sky.
This experience inspired heroic action in others. Marcus D'Arland and Jean de Rosier decided to put their lives on the line and become the first balloonists on Earth.
In one of the Parisian parks they built a huge fire. Nearby lay a balloon with a basket attached to its beautifully decorated shell. When the warmed air filled the balloon, two daredevils jumped into the basket, “released the mooring lines” and began to rise into the sky. So, in the same 1783, these two, rising above the heads of the surprised public, made the first balloon flight in the history of mankind.
The question of who invented the hot air balloon will certainly be of interest to every schoolchild. After all, this aircraft was created back in the 18th century and has stood the test of time, as it is still used in aeronautics today. Technology and materials change and improve, but the principle of operation has remained the same over the centuries. That is why turning to the personalities of those people who invented this new amazing means of transportation seems especially relevant.
short biography
The inventors were the Montgolfier brothers. They lived in the small French town of Annonay. Both were interested in science, crafts, and technology from childhood. Their father was an entrepreneur and had his own paper mill. After his death, the eldest of the brothers, Joseph-Michel, inherited it and subsequently used it for his invention.
For his scientific achievements, he subsequently became administrator of the famous Parisian Conservatoire of Arts and Crafts. His younger brother Jacques-Etienne was an architect by training.
He was addicted scientific works the outstanding British natural scientist who discovered oxygen. This hobby led him to take part in all of his older brother's experiments.
Prerequisites
The story of who invented it must begin with an explanation of the conditions that made such an amazing discovery possible. By the second half of the 18th century, a number of important scientific discoveries, which allowed the brothers to put their own observations into practice. The discovery of oxygen has already been discussed above. In 1766, another British researcher G. Cavendish discovered hydrogen, a substance that subsequently began to be actively used in aeronautics. About ten years before the famous balloon-raising experiment, the famous French scientist A.L. Lavoisier developed a theory about the role of oxygen in oxidation processes.
Preparation
So, the story of who invented the hot air balloon is closely related to scientific life second half of the 18th century. In this case, it is important to note that such an invention was made possible thanks to the above discoveries. The brothers were not only aware of the latest scientific discoveries, but also tried to implement them.
It was this thought that prompted them to create the ball.
They had at their disposal all the necessary materials for its production: the paper factory left to them by their father provided them with paper and fabrics. At first they made large bags, filled them with hot air and launched them into the sky. The first few experiments gave them the idea of creating a large ball. At first, they filled it with steam, but when raised, this substance quickly cooled and settled in the form of water sediments on the walls of matter. Then it was decided to use hydrogen, which is known to be lighter than air.
However, this light gas quickly evaporated and escaped through the walls of matter. Even covering the ball with paper did not help, through which the gas still quickly disappeared. In addition, hydrogen was a very expensive substance, and the brothers were able to get it with great difficulty. It was necessary to look for another way to successfully complete the experiment.
Preliminary tests
When describing the activities of those who invented the balloon, it is necessary to point out the obstacles that the brothers had to face before their experiment was successfully completed. After the first two unsuccessful attempts to lift the structure into the air, Joseph-Michel proposed using hot smoke rather than hydrogen.
This option seemed successful to the brothers, since this substance was also lighter than air and, therefore, could lift the ball upward. New experience turned out to be successful. The rumor of this success quickly spread throughout the town, and residents began to ask the brothers to conduct a public experiment.
Flight of 1783
The brothers scheduled the trial for June 5th. Both carefully prepared for this significant event. They made a ball that weighed more than 200 kilograms. It was without a basket - that indispensable attribute that we are accustomed to seeing in modern designs. A special belt and several ropes were attached to it to hold it in the desired position until the air inside the shell was heated. The Montgolfier brothers' balloon had a very impressive appearance and made a huge impression on those gathered. Its neck was placed over a fire, which heated the air. Eight assistants held him down by ropes from below. When the shell was filled with hot air, the ball rose up.
Second flight
The basket balloon was also invented by these people. However, this was preceded by the enormous resonance that the discovery of unknown researchers from a small French town had. Scientists from the Academy of Sciences became interested in this discovery. King Louis XVI himself showed such interest in the flight of the balloon that the brothers were summoned to Paris. a new flight was scheduled for September 1783. The brothers attached a willow basket to the ball and claimed that it would support the passengers. They wanted to fly themselves, but there was a heated debate in the newspapers about the great risk. Therefore, to begin with, it was decided to raise the animals in a basket. On the appointed day, September 19, the ball, in the presence of scientists, courtiers and the king, rose up along with the “passengers”: a rooster, a ram and a duck. After a short flight, the ball caught on tree branches and sank to the ground. It turned out that the animals were doing well, and then it was decided that the balloon with the basket could support a person. After some time, the world's first air flight was carried out by Jacques-Etienne and the famous French scientist, physicist and chemist Pilatre de Rozier.
Types of balls
Depending on the type of gas with which the shell is filled, it is customary to distinguish three types of these flying devices. Those that rise with the help of hot air are called hot air balloons - after the name of its creators. This is one of the most convenient and safest ways of filling matter with gas, which is lighter than air and, accordingly, can lift a basket with people in it. Different types hot air balloons allow travelers to choose the most convenient method of transportation. The balloon burner is of particular importance in this design.
Its purpose is to constantly heat the air. In cases where it is necessary to lower the ball, it is necessary to open a special valve in the shell in order to cool the air. Those balls, the inside of which are filled with hydrogen, were called charliers - after another outstanding French chemist-inventor, a contemporary of the Montgolfier brothers, Jacques Charles.
Other types of devices
The merit of this researcher lies in the fact that he independently, without using the developments of his outstanding compatriots, invented his own balloon, filling it with hydrogen. However, his first experiments were unsuccessful, since hydrogen, being an explosive substance, came into contact with air and exploded. Hydrogen is an explosive substance, so its use when filling the shell aircraft associated with certain inconveniences.
Helium balloons are also called charliers. The molecular weight of this substance is greater than that of hydrogen, it has sufficient carrying capacity, it is harmless and safe. The only drawback of this substance is its high cost, which is why it is used for manned vehicles. Those balls that are filled half with air and half with gases are called rosiers - after another contemporary of the Montgolfier brothers - the aforementioned Pilâtre de Rosier. He divided the shell of the ball into two parts, one of which he filled with hydrogen, the other with hot air. He tried to fly on his device, but the hydrogen caught fire, and he and his companion died. Nevertheless, the type of apparatus he invented received recognition. Balloons containing helium and air, or hydrogen, are used in modern aeronautics.