October2000
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
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MAGAZINE
October 2000
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose,
Alan Sanderson, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Denis Bomer, Philippe Buron-Pilatre
Jim Ellis, Russ Gratham
Rick Heller, John Larsen
Tom McConnell, ThomasSaunders
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June 15, 1785 Pilatre de Rozier and Pierre Romain lifted off along the French coast
inhopesofmakinganeasttowestcrossingoftheEnglishChannel.deRozierhad
combinedthe montgolfier and charles designs intoa hybrid hydrogen/hot air balloon.
Afterrisingtoaheightof 5,000feetthe balloonbegantodriftbackoverthe French
countryside. Suddenly the balloonerupted in fire andthe French aeronauts fell to their
death.
Inthe1970’sseveralattemptsweremadetocrosstheAtlanticusingahybrid
balloon, this timewith helium ratherthan hydrogen.Those attempts failed. Finally, more
than two-hundred years after deRozier’s fateful flight,Don Cameron proved the concept
of using heat toexpanda more efficient lifting gas viable. Withit wasborn the ability
toremain aloft for far greater durationwith a smaller balloonsystem.
Henk Brink and his Dutch team because the first to fly the Atlantic using a Cameron
Roziere in the mid 80s. Roziere balloons soon became the choice of long distance record
attempts, especiallythose who wantedtofly aroundthe world.
In France, where ballooning was invented and thehome of Pilatre, there was a desire
tousehisconcepttocrosstheAtlantic.LaurentLajoyeandChristopheHouver
assembledateamandsecuredspon-
sorshipforthatverypurpose.This
Septemberthey becamethefirst French
team to cross the Atlantic. Not only did
thisRoziere flyhome in triumph, the
flightestablishedanewworlddura-
tionrecordfor its size.
Our Special Report onthisflight
is written by Philippe Buron-Pilatre, a
descendantofthefirstaeronautand
namesake ofthe Roziere style balloon.
off
Aft erah otfl ig htiny o ur
montgolfier how do you cool off? The
swimmin gpoolpicturednearbyis
owned by a balloonist known for their
fleetofseasonalspecialshapes.The
“basket” is ahot tub,a useful wayto
“heat”the envelope.This balloon pool,
located in Florida, undoubtedly uses a
lot of solar heating to keep the water at
adesirable temperature. What a way to
relax after the flight.
