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RUTH LAW
DAYTONA'S PIONEER AVIATOR
UP, UP AND AWAY!!
Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier
1754-1785
Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier was a French chemistry
and physics teacher, and one of the first pioneers of
aviation.
The Montgolfier brothers were inventors of the
Montgolfiere hot air balloon, and after several tethered
tests to gain some experience of controlling the balloon,
de Rozier and Marquis d'Arlandes made their first flight in
a Montgolfiere hot air balloon, made of paper and linen,
in 1783. Balloons were called “aerostats” and balloonists
“aeronauts.” The first free flight by humans lasted 25
minutes, and traveled about 5-1/2 miles from the Bois de
Boulogne in Paris. It returned to the outskirts of Paris.
Benjamin Franklin, Ambassador to France, was among
the many spectators.
In 1784, Rozier was on board along with Joseph
Montgolfier on a second flight in a huge Montgolfiere
balloon which carried seven passengers. It launched
from Lyon. Several difficulties arose. It only flew a short
distance. Rozier's second flight in 1784 flew for forty-five
minutes before cold and turbulence forced its decent.
Records were set for speed, altitude and distance
traveled.
In 1785, an attempt was made to cross the English
Channel from France to England in a combination hot air
and hydrogen “Roziere” balloon. It deflated from a
height of 1500 feet. Rozier and his companion, Pierre
Romain, were killed.
HER PLACE IN AVIATION HISTORY
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