Today in History: Revolutionary Hot-Air Balloon Flight Takes Off in the US, Changing the Course of History
On January 9, 1793, the first hot-air balloon flight in the United States took off from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, piloted by Jean Pierre Blanchard.
The hot-air balloon, a relatively new mode of transportation at the time, had been invented in France just a few decades prior.
Blanchard, a French aeronaut, had already made a name for himself by completing a number of successful balloon flights in Europe before being invited to the United States to demonstrate the technology.
As a crowd of spectators gathered to watch the historic event, Blanchard and his assistant, John Jeffries, climbed aboard the balloon and prepared for lift-off.
At around 3:30pm, the balloon was released from its tethers and began its ascent into the sky.
The flight was a major success, with the balloon reaching an altitude of over 3,000 feet and traveling a distance of fifteen miles before landing safely in Deptford, New Jersey.
The flight lasted a total of 45 minutes, and was hailed as a technological marvel.
Blanchard's successful flight marked the beginning of a new era in transportation, and paved the way for future advancements in air travel.
It also solidified Blanchard's reputation as one of the pioneers of hot-air ballooning, and he went on to make many more successful flights in both Europe and the United States.
Today, hot-air ballooning remains a popular form of recreational and competitive aviation, and Blanchard's groundbreaking flight in Philadelphia is remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of flight.