7th January 1785: First aerial crossing of the English Channel
Born to a peasant family in Normandy, Blanchard fled to Paris as a teenager. Here he developed an interest in science and, following the Montgolfier brothers’ successful flight of a hot air balloon in 1783, turned his attention to the new craze. On 2 March the following year Blanchard made his first successful flight at the Champs de Mars in Paris using a hydrogen-filled balloon.
Desperate to achieve fame and fortune, Blanchard moved to London in August 1784 where the population had not yet become caught up in ‘balloonomania’. Blanchard quickly convinced a group of financiers to support him and, alongside the wealthy Dr John Jeffries, Blanchard planned the first aerial crossing of the Channel.
Having provided the necessary funds, Jeffries insisted that he should accompany Blanchard on the flight from Dover to Calais. Unwilling to share the certain fame Blanchard concealed lead weights in his clothes in an attempt to persuade Jeffries that the balloon would be too heavy to carry both of them, but the
3 views
98
25
3 months ago 01:09:44 1
Adolf Hitler - Speech on the 7th Anniversary of the Seizure of Power, January 30th, 1940
3 months ago 00:03:15 1
. - 220 (Official Music Video) 4K
3 months ago 00:03:26 1
Sabaton - Hill 3234 (Music Video)
3 months ago 00:05:03 1
INFECTED RAIN - Fighter (Official Video) | Napalm Records
3 months ago 00:08:16 4
Rory Gallagher - Do You Read Me (Rock Goes To College 1979)
3 months ago 00:09:34 1
Bad Boys Blue - Mega Mix (The Official Bootleg Megamix Vol 1)
3 months ago 00:04:02 1
You Me At Six - Voicenotes (Official Visualiser)
3 months ago 00:04:03 1
Vitas - The 7th Element / Седьмой элемент (Настоящий новый год 2.0)
4 months ago 01:51:04 1
“Queen Live at Wembley 1986“ (Legendado 7th January 2022)
4 months ago 00:07:39 1
Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Increasingly Uncertain Because Of His Cult, And The Constant Drugs
4 months ago 00:04:38 1
MALEVOLENT CREATION - Decimated (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
4 months ago 00:24:00 2
January Never Dies Tour 2023 (Part 2) : the great legacy 위대한 유산
4 months ago 00:08:43 1
Perfume Genius - “Eye in the Wall“ (Official Audio)
4 months ago 00:20:56 1
Sten MkI & MkI*: The Original Plumber’s Nightmare
5 months ago 00:21:57 2
January Never Dies Tour 2023 (Part 1) : the great legacy 위대한 유산
5 months ago 00:55:55 1
Stan Getz Quartet Live at International Jazz Fest. Loosdrecht, The Netherlands - 1971 (audio only)
5 months ago 00:05:27 1
The Gregorian Calendar vs. Julian Calendar (Why Russians Celebrate Christmas in January)
5 months ago 00:03:05 1
the Jesus Lizard “Hide & Seek“ (pre-order now)
5 months ago 00:04:32 1
Leo Lorenzo & Marina Motronenko - Strictly Open Finals - Budafest 2022
5 months ago 00:02:15 1
On Set of SEASON OF THE WITCH with Nicolas Cage
5 months ago 00:01:24 1
Season of the Witch VJ4: Dominic Sena Exclusive Interview
5 months ago 00:20:57 2
Hitler: 7th Anniversary of Power Speech - In English
6 months ago 00:03:37 1
Sabaton - Hill 3234 - Русский перевод | Субтитры
6 months ago 00:05:28 1
Thibaut Ramirez & Nicole Ramirez - 2nd place Champions Jack&Jill Finals - Budafest 2024