OCR Text |
Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley News Volume I, Issue X July 1999 Traditions in Ballooning almost round in shape but also somewhat cylindrical, quite like the shape of an egg. It stood fifty-eight feet in height and forty-two feet in diameter. Compiled by Wendy Hill This year will mark the 5th annual Harvest Moon Balloon Festt TM , a relatively young tradition in the Ogden Valley. However, ballooning has been a world wide tradition since September 19, 1783 when two brothers in France became intrigued by the notion of flight. The following information gives insight into the history of ballooning. The information was taken from the book, The Joy of Ballooning by George C. Deniston. The Montgolfier brothers were paper manufacturers in Versailles, France a small community just west of Paris. As legend goes, the brothers were hanging out in the kitchen and noticed the smoke from the fire drifting along the floor and under the long skirts of the ladies. Their skirts would billow and rise when the smoke was trapped underneath, thus leading the brothers to believe that smoke was an element to make an enclosed envelope of fabric fly. Little did they know at the time that it was the heat! The brothers got busy and built a small envelope out of cotton cloth and canvas. It was painted inside and out, and was beautifully decorated. The interior of the envelope was given added protection with an alum-based paint. The envelope was At the Royal Palace of Versailles King Louis XVI and his courtiers anxiously awaited the arrival of Etienne Montgolfier and this new aerostat. A treaty had recently been signed in Paris in the presence of dignitaries from many countries which concluded the American Revolution and freed the American colonies from Great Britain. Many of the dignitaries were still guests of the King, and also wanted to witness this exciting French invention. Etienne Montgolfier arrived in Versailles with his balloon on a cart drawn by three horses. He was dressed in black for the occasion. A platform had been erected with two tall masts to hold the balloon in place while it was being inflated. Underneath the platform, wool, chopped straw, old shoes, and rotten meat were thrown onto a metal grate over a wood fire. These materials produced the special smoke the Etienne and his brother Joseph believed made it possible to fly. In seven minutes, the balloon was filled with smoke and hot air. A round wicker basket containing a rooster, a duck, and a sheep was attached by a rope to the envelope, and the entire contraption was released. To the great delight of everyone, it climbed steadily to 1500 feet and flew for eight minutes before beginning its decent. Nearing the ground the basket hit a pile of logs, The launch of Pilatre de Rozier and Marquis d’Arlandes in a hot air balloon near which broke the rope and Paris, in 1783, marks the first time in recorded history that humans have flown. jostled the animals rudely. The envelope flew on and landed gently atop a young oak tree. The roosters beak was broken, but otherwise the animals were unharmed. The sheep had eaten the hay that was provided for it, thus “making hay” of the first in-flight AND ASSOCIATES meal! The first flight was a huge success, delighting King THE TRUSTED NAME IN REAL ESTATE Louis and his court. MANSELL Pete Bealba GRI E D E N O F F IC E 2580 N orth H igh w ay 162 E den , U tah 84310 P h on e: 801-745-8800 E xt. 328 F ax: 745-1400 C ell-Voice M ail: 391-4100 E -m ail: peteb@ konnections.com B ran ch B roker On November 21, 1783 the world’s first manned flight was launched by pilot Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier, and his only crew member, Marquis d’Arlandes. The balloon was made entirely of a strong Rouen canvas with silk cloth providing reinforcement at the base. It was 68 feet high and was painted in azure and gold. The pilot and his crew ascended to an estimated altitude of 3000 feet, flying for 25 minutes and traveled six miles. They landed softly in a meadow. The first manned flight in a hot air balloon was successful! The pilot, Pilatre, returned home exhausted and cold, while Marquis returned to the chateau to a fabulous luncheon and was proclaimed “God of the atmosphere borne on the clouds.” The rest, as they say, is history! Note: Reprinted with permission from The Joy of Ballooning by George C. Denniston, copyrightc 1999 by George C. Denniston, ppublished by Running Press, Philadelphia and London. To order, please call 1-800-345-5359, but try your bookstore first! a casual eatery in beautiful Ogden Canyon EARLY BIRD COUPON... EARLY BIRD COUPON... EARLY BIRD COUPON Visit The Oaks Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and when purchasing an entree receive a second entree of equal or lessor value for free. THIS OFFER IS NOT VALID HOLIDAYS. OPEN DAILY 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner Visit our website: www.citysearch.com/slc/theoaks 750 Ogden Canyon ...........................................394-2421 |