Balloon Ascension Day

National Balloon Ascension Day commemorates the amazing event that took place on January 9, 1793. Many years ago, Jean-Pierre Blanchard took to the air in a balloon and flew across the English Channel. Let’s remember his feat today!

History

Jean-Pierre was born in 1753 in the north of France in the family of a turner. From childhood, he was interested in mechanics and dreamed of being able to fly like a bird. He worked on the creation of aircraft with wings, but this did not bring success. The inquisitive boy was not upset by failures but was rather spurred on to work further. By the way, he really failed projects in front of the public many times!

Blanchard did not make a successful flight alone; on board his ship was an American doctor, John Jeffreys. The design had a curious appearance and was shaped like a boat, equipped with an anchor and wings. In flight, everything went as it should, but after an hour the aircraft began to lose altitude. The men had to throw overboard all their belongings: tools, ballast, anchor, food, and in the last minutes, they even had to throw off their clothes.

It cannot be said that the landing was soft and triumphant: the pilots could not reach the embankment where crowds of onlookers gathered and instead landed in the forest. This did not diminish their achievement—they surprised the whole world! The authorities installed a column to commemorate the men. On National Balloon Ascension Day, it is worth remembering this miraculous event that marked a significant milestone in history.

Interesting facts

It is noteworthy that:

• Jean-Pierre died in 1808 when he fell while flying in his balloon over The Hague;
• In 2015, a balloon overcame the highest point of flight on a similar design—69,000 feet;
• The weight that balloons can carry is severely limited;
• Flight altitude is controlled by temperature, through cooling or heating.

How to celebrate

The perfect way to celebrate National Balloon Ascension Day is to take a flight! It’s even better if the surrounding area is picturesque: enjoying beautiful views is doubly pleasant. If you are afraid of heights, try to overcome your fear!

When is Balloon Ascension Day in 2025?

Balloon Ascension Day is observed on January 9 each year.

Observations