Post by walterleo on Jul 7, 2019 17:54:17 GMT
Sophie Blanchard crashed 200 years ago in Paris in a bold night baloon stunt becoming so not only the first female professional pilot but also the first female victim of an air desaster.
She was the widow of Jean Pierre Blanchard, the first professional balloonist having the first channel crossing to his credit. She succeded in his risky business specialising in night time fireworks from the balloon. She impressed both Napoleon I and Luis XVIII.
Her speciality did cost her life 200 zears ago, when a rocket backfired and put the hydrogen filled balloon ablaze. She managed an emergency landing but could not leave the basket being entangeled into the rigging atop a high and steep rooftop, from where she did fall down finally and died from her injuries.
Before takeoff she discussed with some expert bystanders if she should risk this time her stunt the load of the fireworks beeing heavier than usual, but finally sayed: "Oh this time will be the last stunt of this kind."
Kind regards
Walter
She was the widow of Jean Pierre Blanchard, the first professional balloonist having the first channel crossing to his credit. She succeded in his risky business specialising in night time fireworks from the balloon. She impressed both Napoleon I and Luis XVIII.
Her speciality did cost her life 200 zears ago, when a rocket backfired and put the hydrogen filled balloon ablaze. She managed an emergency landing but could not leave the basket being entangeled into the rigging atop a high and steep rooftop, from where she did fall down finally and died from her injuries.
Before takeoff she discussed with some expert bystanders if she should risk this time her stunt the load of the fireworks beeing heavier than usual, but finally sayed: "Oh this time will be the last stunt of this kind."
Kind regards
Walter