AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2017 - 31

as his launch site for several reasons. Even
though surrounded by prisoners, it was a
secure spot to set up his balloon and the
apparatus for making hydrogen gas. The
enclosed courtyard protected the balloon
from the winter wind during inflation, and
allowed him to sell exclusive tickets to view
the launch. At first, the price was $5, but it
was lowered to $2 when sales were not so
brisk. Five dollars was a huge sum for the
average American in 1793.
The flight achieved several "firsts" in
U.S. aviation history. At the last moment
before launch, someone placed a dog in
the basket with Blanchard, making it the
first flying American hound.
At 10 a.m., Blanchard lifted off with an
official letter from the president, which
was America's first air-mail delivery. It read
in part: "George Washington, president of
the United States of America...recommend
to all citizens of the United States, and others, that in his passage, descent, return, or
journeying elsewhere, they oppose no hindrance or molestation to Mr. Blanchard;
And, that on the contrary, they receive and
aid him with that humanity and good will
which may render honor to their country."
Blanchard later described the flight:
"When, elevated at a certain height over the

city, I turned my eyes towards the immense
number of people, which covered the open
places, the roofs of the houses, the steeples,
the streets and the roads over which my flight
carried me in the free space of the air. What a
sight! How delicious for me to enjoy it!"
As Blanchard sailed toward the
Delaware River, he made the first aerial
encounter with birds in America, too. "I
met a numerous and thick flock of wild
pigeons: they seemed to be much frightened. Alas! it was never my intention in
traversing the ethereal regions to disturb
the feathered inhabitants thereof; they separated into two different parties and left a
passage open for me."
After leveling off, Blanchard completed
a few scientific experiments, including taking air samples at an altitude of 5,400 feet,
checking his pulse rate, testing the strength
of a magnet, and noting the temperature
and air pressure.
Before landing, Blanchard also partook
of the first inflight meal in America as he
"strengthened my stomach with a morsel
of biscuit and a glass of wine."
Forty-five minutes after takeoff,
Blanchard landed the balloon in a plowed
field in Deptford, New Jersey, eight miles
from the launch. A New Jersey farmer was

terrified by the sight of a man descending from the sky, but the pilot beckoned
him closer.
"Recollecting that the exhilarating
juice of the grape was always amongst
mankind the happiest sign of friendship
and conciliation, I showed him a bottle of wine. So much eagerness on my
part inspired him with confidence; he
approached, I invited him to drink, he
would not venture, I then drank, first, and
he followed my example."
Properly lubricated, local farmers
assisted Blanchard in carting his balloon
from the field and finding a carriage back
to Philadelphia. That evening, the French
pilot shared the details of his flight with
President Washington, doubtless with the
help of additional wine.
Blanchard returned to Europe in 1797
and continued to fly until he suffered a
heart attack during a flight in 1808. He fell
from the balloon but survived for almost
a year before succumbing to his injuries
in 1809. After his death his widow performed balloon flights until she also died
in an accident.
DENNIS K. JOHNSON is a freelance writer

and pilot living in New York City.

NOTABLE PEOPLE IN AVIATION HISTORY

July 2, 2002

STEVE FOSSETT circumnavigates the globe in his balloon, Spirit of Freedom. The 10-story-high balloon
flew for 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes. Fossett set
91 aviation world records, including the solo, nonstop, unrefueled circumnavigation in
Virgin Atlantic's GlobalFlyer in 2005
and 2006. Fossett disappeared on
Labor Day 2007 in a Super Decathlon
over the Sierra Nevada. The search
was the largest and most complex
peacetime search in U.S. history. His
remains and the crash site were found
one year later.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2017