2008 Woodie Awards
November is not just for Thanksgiving
Suzie Roth
Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: News
November is also National Peanut Butter Lovers Month, National American Indian Heritage Month and Aviation History Month!
We live in an amazing time. Technology has taken man into the air and into space. It was during this month in 1782 that brothers Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier began experimenting with small balloons made of silk and inflated by hot air. It was these experiments which lead to the invention of the hot-air balloon. In April of 1783, the Montgolfier brothers made history; flying the first balloon capable of carrying the weight of a man. Their 35 ft. balloon; able to lift 450lbs. was launched from Annonay, France. This flight gave the brothers the encouragement needed to continue experimenting (Baker, 1994). They did larger demonstrations which included one with King Louis XVI looking on while their balloon carried a sheep, a goose and a rooster Hallion, 2006). Their first manned unteathered flight drifted over Paris for 7 miles in about 25 minutes at the height of 3,000 feet. The success of this flight caused quite a sensation and their pioneering efforts created a gateway for others.
The ballooning method of flight was built-upon and used for many decades after the Montgolfier brothers' initial flight in 1783. Although many tried, it was more than a century later when two other brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright began experiments that would change the concept of flying forever.
Interesting note; Gini Norgard's Uncle Calvin Q. Hayes was a pioneer in aviation. In 1885 he "reached the height of 100 feet using multiple kites made of canvas." She even has some newspaper articles documenting "Uncle Cal's" historic efforts in aviation! As she says, "I am pretty sure he beat the Wright brothers in the race to fly using motor power, however, he didn't have the financial backing and publicity!" Gini works in the admissions office here on campus.
To learn more about these and other men and women who have shaped aviation as we know it, come on in to the library. Throughout the month we will be featuring titles about the history of aviation for you to check out. Here is a sampling of a few:
Aviation by Peter Almond TL 515.A45 1997
Aviation: The Pioneer Years by Ben Mackworth-Praed TL 516.A94 1990
A Century of Flight by Ray Bonds TL 515.I449 2003
Before Amelia: Women Pilots in the Early Days of Aviation by Eileen F. Lebow TL 539.L42 2002
Milestones of the First Century of Flight by F. Clifton Berry, Jr. TL 515.B4245 2002
And many, many more!
If you are online often (which I am sure you are!), you may want to check some of these sites. Lots of great information!
[http://www.aviation-history.com]
[http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/history/aviation-hist.html]
[http://www.century-of-flight.net]
[http://www.first-to-fly.com]
During this month I encourage you to look back on how it all began. Take some time to read or browse a book about the history of aviation!
We live in an amazing time. Technology has taken man into the air and into space. It was during this month in 1782 that brothers Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier began experimenting with small balloons made of silk and inflated by hot air. It was these experiments which lead to the invention of the hot-air balloon. In April of 1783, the Montgolfier brothers made history; flying the first balloon capable of carrying the weight of a man. Their 35 ft. balloon; able to lift 450lbs. was launched from Annonay, France. This flight gave the brothers the encouragement needed to continue experimenting (Baker, 1994). They did larger demonstrations which included one with King Louis XVI looking on while their balloon carried a sheep, a goose and a rooster Hallion, 2006). Their first manned unteathered flight drifted over Paris for 7 miles in about 25 minutes at the height of 3,000 feet. The success of this flight caused quite a sensation and their pioneering efforts created a gateway for others.
The ballooning method of flight was built-upon and used for many decades after the Montgolfier brothers' initial flight in 1783. Although many tried, it was more than a century later when two other brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright began experiments that would change the concept of flying forever.
Interesting note; Gini Norgard's Uncle Calvin Q. Hayes was a pioneer in aviation. In 1885 he "reached the height of 100 feet using multiple kites made of canvas." She even has some newspaper articles documenting "Uncle Cal's" historic efforts in aviation! As she says, "I am pretty sure he beat the Wright brothers in the race to fly using motor power, however, he didn't have the financial backing and publicity!" Gini works in the admissions office here on campus.
To learn more about these and other men and women who have shaped aviation as we know it, come on in to the library. Throughout the month we will be featuring titles about the history of aviation for you to check out. Here is a sampling of a few:
Aviation by Peter Almond TL 515.A45 1997
Aviation: The Pioneer Years by Ben Mackworth-Praed TL 516.A94 1990
A Century of Flight by Ray Bonds TL 515.I449 2003
Before Amelia: Women Pilots in the Early Days of Aviation by Eileen F. Lebow TL 539.L42 2002
Milestones of the First Century of Flight by F. Clifton Berry, Jr. TL 515.B4245 2002
And many, many more!
If you are online often (which I am sure you are!), you may want to check some of these sites. Lots of great information!
[http://www.aviation-history.com]
[http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/history/aviation-hist.html]
[http://www.century-of-flight.net]
[http://www.first-to-fly.com]
During this month I encourage you to look back on how it all began. Take some time to read or browse a book about the history of aviation!
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