flight image Flight Firsts
  • 1783: Jean Pilatre and Marquis d'Arlandes were the first to fly in a hot air balloon. The balloon was designed and built by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier
  • 1783: Jacques Charles and M.N.Robert made the first hydrogen filled balloon flight
  • 1785: Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries made first crossing of the English Channel in a balloon
  • 1852: Henri Giffard made the first powered and controlled flight in an airship, travelling from Paris to Trappes, a distance of 27 km
  • 1924: US Army Air Service crews flew Douglas World Cruiser biplanes around the world (175 days)
  • 1933: Wiley Post flew "Winnie Mae" a Lockheed Vega around the world solo ( 8 days)
  • 1986: Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager flew "Yoyager", an experimental aircraft non stop around the world (9 days)
  • 1999: Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones flew "Orbiter 3", a balloon non stop around the world (19 days)

early aircraft