On a cold and misty night in July, 1919, His Majesty’s airship R.34 set out from Scotland on what was to be a record-breaking flight to New York. It was the first time that an attempt had been made to fly across the Atlantic ‘the hard way’ from East to West, against the prevailing winds; […]
R 34 Airship first to make Atlantic double crossing by air. July 1919. Read More »
The latest issue of Trailrope is published and on the front cover you see a balloon made in 1937 by Bruno Marek who was one of a number of enthusiasts who experimented with hot air balloons in 1930s Europe. One of them ascended to an altitude of 9,374 metres – a world record that stood
Trailrope Summer 2025 Read More »
We have recently been donated a sand bag from Jasper Tomlinson via Giles Camplin both of whom worked with Anthony Smith on his gas balloon adventures with that legendary balloon ‘JAMBO’. This is no ordinary sand bag though because it was carried by the Belgian team of Phillipe Quersin and Martial van Schelle on their
Sand bag from 1930s Gordon Bennett balloon race Read More »
In 1958 the Atlantic Ocean had yet to be conquered by balloon so it was big news when four people set out from a beach in Tenerife to attempt an ambitious 3,600 miles east-west crossing to South America. After three years planning it was skipper Arnold “Bushy” Eiloart who learned to fly a gas balloon
The Courier d’Avignon, dated October 28, confirms these facts: “From Paris, October 18: Here are the details announced last week for Mr. Montgolfer’s experiment. The calm weather for the last 7 or 8 days has allowed them to be multiplied. Mr. Montgolfer himself has risen on several occasions with Mr. Pilatre de Rozier and a
Who was the first to fly? Read More »
On this International Women’s Day we wanted to highlight an extraordinary woman in the world of ballooning. Sophie Blanchard (1778 – 1819) was not only the first woman to pilot her own balloon but the first ever professional lady balloon pilot in the world! Born in France and from humble beginnings she was just a
International Women’s Day Read More »
March 21st, 1999 at 6:00 GMT, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones successfully landed in the Egyptian desert, after traveling 45’755km in 19 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes, thus achieving the longest flight in the history of aviation for both distance and duration. The balloonists took off from Chateau-d’Oex, Switzerland, on March 1st, 1999. Many
First circumnavigation of the world by balloon. Read More »
On 3 February, 1902, Robert F. Scott’s British National Antarctic Expedition was on its way back to McMurdo Sound in the Ross Sea of Antarctica. The Discovery had reached its easternmost point of exploration on 1 February but, with the Antarctic summer coming to a close, the desire to find a safe harbour at McMurdo was strong.
Scott & Shackleton’s balloon in Antarctica Read More »
Any balloon pilot who has been lucky enough to make a balloon flight across the Alps will probably tell you it was the best flight of their life. The annual International Alpine balloon meet in Chateau D’Oex , Switzerland is one of the most popular destinations for pilots wanting winter sport in January. The Alps,
Trans-Alpine Ballooning. Read More »
7 January 1785 – the day Jean Pierre Blanchard and Dr. John Jeffries became the first aeronauts to fly across the English Channel . An account of the time tells us that the men were wearing frock coats, dimity waistcoats, nankeen britches, white silk stockings and shoes festooned with black silk ribbons. Their hats
First balloon flight across the English Channel Read More »
