jeudi 15 septembre 2005

From Ware to Where? Albuquerque of course! Scouring - as I sometimes do in odd moments of anticipation, wondering what the next 24 hours will bring - the "Searchable Chambers' Book Of Days" I came across an entry about Lunardi's Balloon... Several small balloons had been sent up from various parts of England; but no person, adventurous enough to explore the realms of air, had ascended, till Vincent Lunardi, a youthful attaché of the Neapolitan embassy, made the first ascent in England from the Artillery Ground, at Moorfields, September 15, 1784. It was Lunardi's original intention to ascend from the garden of Chelsea Hospital, having acquired permission to do so; but the permission was subsequently rescinded, on account of a riot caused by another balloon adventurer, a Frenchman named De Moret. This man proposed to ascend from a tea-garden, in the Five-fields, a place now known by the general term of Belgravia. His balloon seems, from an engraving of the period, to have resembled one of the large, old-fashioned, wooden summer-houses still to be seen in suburban gardens; and the car was provided with wheels, so that it could, if required, be used as a travelling-carriage! Whether he ever intended to attempt an ascension in such an unwieldy machine, has never been clearly ascertained. The balloon, such as it was, was constructed on the Montgolfier, or fire, principle - that is to say, the ascending agent was air rarefied by the application of artificial heat. De Moret, having collected a considerable sum of money, was preparing for an ascent on the 10th of August 1784, when his machine caught fire, and was burned, the unruly mob revenging their disappointment by destroying the adjoining property. The adventurer, however, made a timely escape, and a caricature of the day represents him flying off to Ostend with a bag of British guineas, leaving the Stockwell Ghost, the Bottle Conjuror, Elizabeth Canning, Mary Toft, and other cheats, enveloped in the smoke of his burning balloon. The authorities, being apprehensive that, in case of failure, Chelsea Hospital might be destroyed in a similar riot, rescinded their permission; but Lunardi was, eventually, accommodated with the use of the Artillery Ground, the members of the City Artillery Company being under arms, to protect their property. When the eventful day arrived, Moorfields, then an open space of ground, was thronged by a dense mob of spectators; such crowd had never previously been collected in London. As the morning hours wore away, silent expectation was followed by impatient clamour, soon succeeded by yells of angry threatenings, to be in a moment changed to loud acclamations of applause, as the balloon rose majestically into the air. Lunardi himself said: 'The effect was that of a miracle on the multitude which surrounded the place, and they passed from incredulity and menace into the most extravagant expressions of approbation and joy.' Lunardi first touched earth in a field at North Mimms; after lightening the balloon, he again rose in the air, and finally descended in the parish of Standon, near Ware, in Hertfordshire. Some labourers, who were working close by, were so frightened at the balloon, that no promises of reward would induce them to approach it; not even when a young woman had courageously set the example by taking hold of a cord, which the aûronaut had thrown out... There is more on this two and a quarter hour adventure written here. But who was in fact the first person to fly on - or rather above - English soil? It seems that Lunardi may not have been that person. In Chapter 3 of the 1870 book "The Dominion of the Air" by the Rev. John Mackenzie Bacon, reference is made to a correspondent's letter in the "London Chronicle"... Edinburgh, Aug. 27, 1784. "Mr. Tytler has made several improvements upon his fire balloon. The reason of its failure formerly was its being made of porous linen, through which the air made its escape. To remedy this defect, Mr. Tytler has got it covered with a varnish to retain the inflammable air after the balloon is filled. Early this morning this bold adventurer took his first aerial flight. The balloon being filled at Comely Garden, he seated himself in the basket, and the ropes being cut he ascended very high and descended quite gradually on the road to Restalrig, about half a mile from the place where he rose, to the great satisfaction of those spectators who were present. Mr. Tytler went up without the furnace this morning; when that is added he will be able to feed the balloon with inflammable air, and continue his aerial excursions as long as he chooses. Mr. Tytler is now in high spirits, and in his turn laughs at those infidels who ridiculed his scheme as visionary and impracticable. Mr. Tytler is the first person in Great Britain who has navigated the air." The English company Cameron Balloons has been the leader in making "lighter than air" machines since 1970... and now is the largest such company in the world. Based in Bristol, it is on hand to supply most of the balloons shown and flown at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, an annual extravaganza of colour with both traditional and odd shaped, but instantly recognisable, advertising platforms often referred to as "flying sculptures." My collage above includes the "Virgin Atlantic Jumbo Jet," British Gas "Mr. Wonderfuel" and lager drink (the name escapes me) whose catch-line was "Follow the Bear" with "Phileas Fogg - Fine Foods From Around The World" and other traditional balloons. Hot air balloons, Snowmass CO Carriere, David 24 in. x 18 in. Buy this Giclee Print at AllPosters.com Framed And so from Ware, where the first official English balloon flight landed... to New Mexico, USA, where each year balloonists come from around the world to participate in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which is said to be the most photographed event in the world. Albuquerque is the premier hot air ballooning city due to the crystal-clear skies, ideal climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box." With a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, the "box" allows balloonists to control and even retrace their flights. Balloon Fiesta Park covers over 200 acres and is filled with 700 balloons and vendors selling everything from traditional New Mexican food to balloon memorabilia. With events in the morning and evening throughout the Fiesta, there's something for everyone... mass ascents, flying sculptures, competitions, balloon glows, fireworks... and the next huge event is from Sept. 30th to Oct. 9th. To see the full schedule or for additional information on the City of Albuquerque Tricentennial celebrations including the "South West Gay & Lesbian Film Festival" starting tomorrow Sept. 16th. Phew... it's going to be a hot one in Albuquerque this fall! Where? 10:34:22 PM    comment []