Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900

The hot air balloon has a fascinating history of much trial and error, scientific research and bold adventure. This book chronicles the development and advances in the endeavor and also provides insights into the people who developed the sport--many of whom lost their lives in the process. The book traces the history of ballooning from the Montgolfier brothers' first experiments with a paper balloon in Annonay, France, in 1782, through the next several decades, when the sport's waning novelty forced aeronauts to develop bigger, better and more dangerous tricks. It concludes at the beginning of the 20th century, when the age of the airplane rendered hot air balloons all but obsolete.

1102008890
Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900

The hot air balloon has a fascinating history of much trial and error, scientific research and bold adventure. This book chronicles the development and advances in the endeavor and also provides insights into the people who developed the sport--many of whom lost their lives in the process. The book traces the history of ballooning from the Montgolfier brothers' first experiments with a paper balloon in Annonay, France, in 1782, through the next several decades, when the sport's waning novelty forced aeronauts to develop bigger, better and more dangerous tricks. It concludes at the beginning of the 20th century, when the age of the airplane rendered hot air balloons all but obsolete.

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Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900

Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900

Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900

Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900

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Overview

The hot air balloon has a fascinating history of much trial and error, scientific research and bold adventure. This book chronicles the development and advances in the endeavor and also provides insights into the people who developed the sport--many of whom lost their lives in the process. The book traces the history of ballooning from the Montgolfier brothers' first experiments with a paper balloon in Annonay, France, in 1782, through the next several decades, when the sport's waning novelty forced aeronauts to develop bigger, better and more dangerous tricks. It concludes at the beginning of the 20th century, when the age of the airplane rendered hot air balloons all but obsolete.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780786449415
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date: 01/03/2011
Pages: 303
Product dimensions: 6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

S.L. Kotar of St. Louis has been writing (together with J.E. Gessler) for more than four decades, beginning with scripts for television’s Gunsmoke. The late J.E. Gessler lived in St. Louis.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

1 1782 - In the Beginning: A Voador, a Cock, a Duck and a Sheep 7

2 1783 - Monsters and Aeronauts 13

3 1784 - Big Ascensions 21

4 Rowing with Wings and Other Oddities 27

5 A Reservation for Hope 34

6 Don Quixote de la Manche 41

7 Destinies Played Out 47

8 Balloons at War 53

9 Playing Catch-up 58

10 The Sad Tale of Francis Barrett and the Great English Balloon 62

11 The Skies Belong to Garnerin 68

12 James Sadler and the Real Great English Balloon 76

13 The Women of Aerostation 80

14 (Mostly) Magnificent Balloon Ascensions: 1812-1819 89

15 For the World Is Green and I Have Touched the Sky 95

16 Candidates for Aeronautical Distinction 101

17 Mr. Harris and Miss Stocks: The Journey Unforeseen 108

18 The Aftermath and Beyond 115

19 The Case of the Pastry Cook and a Great Tragedy 121

20 An Astonishing Resurrection 126

21 Notwithstanding, Notwithstanding, Notwithstanding... 132

22 Ballooning in the Americas 141

23 The Europeans Continue to Make Headlines 152

24 American Barnstormers and E.A. Poe's Great Hoax 156

25 All Balloons, Great and Small 166

26 More News from the Continent 175

27 "No Preventing Providence" 183

28 "A Little Relief from the Ordinary Cares of Life" 189

29 Crossing the Atlantic - Or Not 198

30 Higher Than Anyone Had Gone Before 209

31 Great Plans, Tragedies and a Civil War 212

32 Civilian Ballooning During and After the Civil War 217

33 Of Songs, Circuses and "No-Goes" 226

34 The "Impossibility" of Aerial Navigation 236

35 News That Shocked the World 239

36 Seekers After the Philosopher's Stone 246

37 "Paddy-Whacks" but "No Balloon Rackets!" 252

38 Flying Too High 259

39 "A Ridiculous 'Flunk'" 264

Appendix: Glossary 273

Chapter Notes 275

Bibliography 289

Index 291

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