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Overview

Today, flying in an airplane is relatively safe. However, the early days of flight were very dangerous. The first flights often ended with death or serious injuries because they were undertaken during a time when science was being developed and tested for the first time.

The history of balloons is inspiring. They were once used for real adventure and daring feats, but today they’re more associated with Pixar movies or hobbyists than anything else.

It’s amazing to think that balloon technology not only gave rise to new forms of literature, but also helped people escape from totalitarian regimes in the 20th century. The key points in this passage will help you find inspiration with a dismissed form of technology.

The reader will learn about the history of ballooning, including who was involved in its development and why it took off. Also, they’ll learn how to dress like a nineteenth century balloonist.

Big Idea #1: Ballooning is not for the faint of heart.

Ballooning is an uncommon pastime, but it can be dangerous. People who do ballooning are eccentric. One man decided to use ballooning for a good cause and raise money for the poor by tying himself to hundreds of balloons and flying up into the air.

Father Adelir went on a mission to climb a mountain. He was successful and reached the height of 19,000 feet. However, due to some technical glitches in his equipment, he could not contact anyone for help or get directions back home. A rescue party was sent out after him but had no luck finding him either. In July, his body was found floating in the ocean with evidence that some of the helium balloons burst at high altitude causing him to descend slowly into shark-infested waters where he drowned.

And of course, there were risks involved in the past too. For instance, Father Adelir’s charity balloon flight wasn’t the first one. In 1875, Major John Money took to the skies for a local hospital in England with his balloon.

The priest’s flight was also a success. However, he ran into trouble once the balloon was airborne because it got caught in a gust of wind and drifted out to sea. He survived after cutting off the heavy basket and hoisting himself up onto the balloon hoop like a kite surfer being dragged through water. This caused donations for his hospital to increase substantially.

Big Idea #2: Balloons can be used to make daring escapes, though sometimes multiple attempts are needed.

The design of hot air balloons is simple enough for even a beginner to build. This makes it possible for people who are eager to fly but don’t have the necessary experience or training to do so without much difficulty.

In the 1970s, two families in Germany tried to escape from East Berlin using a balloon. Peter Strelzyk and Günter Wetzel, both handymen, decided to build their own balloon in an attic. After many failed attempts at building a viable balloon, Wetzel gave up hope of success. However, Strelzyk didn’t give up; he kept on trying and eventually built a large enough balloon that could hold his family as they attempted to fly over the border into West Berlin. Unfortunately for them, it began raining during their attempt so visibility was poor when they landed near the fence between East and West Berlin. They were able to make it home safely after this first attempt but realized that more work needed to be done before they would be successful at flying across the border successfully with their family in tow.

On the night of September 16th, 1979, a group of families escaped from their secret location in the forest. A huge blast took them up to 6,500 feet. But surrounded by darkness and with searchlights below, they risked firing the burner to avoid being caught even though it made them more visible.