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Balloon Ascension Day marks the anniversary of the first balloon flight in the United States on January 9, 1793, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The 18th century marks the dawn of human flight. This era of innovation began when the Montgolfier brothers conducted the first successful manned flight in a hot air balloon in Paris, France, in 1783. It ignited the imagination of the world and an interest in balloon travel.
Following this pioneering flight, the public and scientists across the world entertained the novelty and potential of balloon flight for transportation and exploration. People COULD fly!
In the United States, on January 9, 1793, Jean Pierre Blanchard, a French balloonist, made the first balloon ascent in the Americas from the Walnut Street Prison in Philadelphia, the capital of the United States at the time, making it the first time a balloon had taken flight in the country. In the crowd, President George Washington watched with members of the federal government, along with a crowd of curious onlookers, attended the event. The President even gave Blanchard a signed pass to ensure his safe passage. You see, at the time, the concept of air travel was so new nobody knew where he might land!
Blanchard, an experienced aeronaut, had previously made balloon ascents in Europe. Ultimately, his American flight lasted around 46 minutes and covered approximately 15 miles. He landed in New Jersey.
While the practical utility of balloons for transportation remained limited due to their unpredictability and the inability to steer them effectively, they laid the groundwork for future advancements in aviation.
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