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22 January 2026
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AVIATION HISTORY

18 August 1805 – Sophie Blanchard becomes the first woman to fly solo in a balloon

17 August 2023 Jacek Domański

On 18th August 1805, Sophie Blanchard successfully completed her solo balloon flight, therefore becoming the first woman in aviation history to perform a solo flight in an aircraft. Marie Madeleine Sophie Blanchard (née Armandt) was […]

SHORT AVIATION STORIES

First balloon crossing of the English Channel

7 January 2023 Jacek Domański

On 7th January 1785, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries performed the very first successful balloon flight across the English Channel (La Manche), covering the route from Dover Castle to Guînes (Guisines), Pas-de-Calais. (full story here) […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

20 May 1784 – first women to ascend in a tethered balloon

20 May 2022 Jacek Domański

On 20th May 1784, Marchioness and Countess de Montalembert, Countess de Podenas and Miss Lagarde ascended in a tethered balloon of the Montgolfier system and therefore they became the first women ever to fly. In […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

7 January 1785 – first balloon crossing of the English Channel

6 January 2022 Jacek Domański

On 7th January 1785, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries performed the very first successful balloon flight across the English Channel (La Manche), covering the route from Dover Castle to Guînes (Guisines), Pas-de-Calais. Since the childhood, […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

27 August 1783 – the world´s first hydrogen balloon

26 August 2021 Jacek Domański

On 27th August 1783, French scientist, professor Jacques Charles and engineers Anne-Jean Robert and Nicolas-Louis Robert, have launched the first ever hydrogen-filled balloon. Although the idea of ballooning was as old as ancient China (approximately […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

20 March 1999 – non-stop balloon flight around the world

20 March 2020 Kacper Kolibowski

Between 1st and 21st March 1999, the first in history, successful non-stop balloon flight around the world was performed. On 1st March 1999, balloonists – Swiss Bertrand Piccard (pilot) and English Brian Jones (co-pilot) set […]

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