WW9 / Atlas index / Sky, flight and fireSky, flight and fire Early flight on record. 48 points on the WW9 Atlas, oldest first, each with its source.
Open this layer on the map Kongming sky lantern -200 · China Small hot-air paper lanterns for signals; the Zhuge Liang credit is tradition, not a dated record. (Traditionally Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD); Needham: signal balloons from 3rd c. BC)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_lantern Gunpowder fireworks, Chinese origin 1000 · China Fireworks practices over a thousand years old with global (Chinese) origins; Italian immigrants built the US industry late 1800s. (Chinese makers)https://www.sciencehistory.org/about/press/institutes-new-exhibition-explores-history-of-fireworks/ Festa Junina paper balloons, Brazil 1500 · Brazil Bipyramid silk-paper hot-air balloons at June festivals; Wikipedia's claim that Portuguese colonists brought the custom in the 16th c. is flagged unsourced. (Communities of Brazil)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_lantern New Fire on Huixachtlan 1507 · Cerro de la Estrella, Mexico City Every 52 years fire drilled on Huixachtlan; bonfire seen across the basin; runners carried torches to every temple and home. 1507 is the last held (date from general sources). (Mexica priests and torch-runners)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Fire_ceremony Gusmao birth in Santos 1685 · Santos, Brazil Born in Santos in the Portuguese colony of Brazil; died Toledo, Spain, 18 Nov 1724. (Bartolomeu Lourenco de Gusmao)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeu_de_Gusm%C3%A3o Gusmao hot-air model balloon, Lisbon court 1709 · Lisbon, Portugal Small paper balloon lifted by a flame before King Joao V and court; Aug 3 attempt burned on the ground; a rise of about 4 m indoors (FAPESP gives Aug 5, Ambassadors' Room; Wikipedia gives Aug 8, Casa da India); a third outdoor flight rose high and fell when the fire went out. Nuncio Michelangelo Conhttps://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/en/the-feats-of-a-flying-priest/ Passarola airship petition and royal privilege 1709 · Lisbon, Portugal Petition with drawing of a bird/boat-shaped craft with sail, bellows and magnet spheres; king granted a privilege to exploit 'the instrument to move the air'. (Bartolomeu de Gusmao; King Joao V)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeu_de_Gusm%C3%A3o Mysore iron-cased rockets 1780 · Srirangapatna, Mysore, India Iron-cased war rockets used against the East India Company in the Anglo-Mysore wars 1780-1799; captured examples sent to Britain after 1799. (Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan; up to 5,000 rocket troops)https://www.royalartillerymuseum.com/our-collection/congreves-rocket-0 Credit to France (Montgolfier 1783) 1783 · Annonay / Paris, France 1783 linen hot-air balloon on the same principle as Gusmao's 1709 model; Montgolfiers became the textbook 'inventors' of ballooning. (Montgolfier brothers)https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/en/the-feats-of-a-flying-priest/ Alfaro balloon, Xalapa 1784 · Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico 18 May 1784: satin hot-air balloon from Xalapa toward Coatepec (~9 km, ~800 m); Mexico Desconocido says the basket held two people. (Jose Maria Alfaro)https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/primer-vuelo-en-globo-mexico.html Ayiti balloons 1784 1784 · Okap (Cap-Francais), Ayiti Balloon launches in Ayiti (Saint-Domingue) in 1784 are discussed in McClellan, Colonialism and Science; not confirmed in pages opened. (Unknown)https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo9638118.html Fernandez balloon, Port of Veracruz 1785 · Veracruz, Mexico 6 Feb 1785 smaller balloon launched at the port. (Antonio Maria Fernandez)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas Venezuela royal-birthday balloon 1785 · Venezuela (city not given; coords Caracas) 20 Jan 1785 balloon exhibition for the monarch's birthday. (colonial authorities)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas 1786 London report of a Gusmao man-carrying flight 1786 · Lisbon, Portugal After the Montgolfier flights, reported Portuguese scholars saying 'the honour of the invention is due to Portugal' and a 1720 public flight; gave him the name 'Voador' (Flying-man). Wikipedia says the 1720 flight story is probably a later invention. (Daily Universal Register (London))https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeu_de_Gusm%C3%A3o Blanchard flight, Philadelphia 1793 · Philadelphia, PA 9 Jan 1793 from Walnut Street Prison yard to Deptford NJ, ~15 mi, <1 hr; Washington letter of safe passage. First crewed flight in the US. (Jean-Pierre Blanchard)https://www.faa.gov/blog/clearedfortakeoff/first-flight-america Congreve rocket (claimed by Britain) 1804 · Woolwich, England Began work 1804 (museum says designed 1801) 'inspired by' Mysore rockets; 32-pounders by 1806; full range adopted by 1813. (William Congreve)https://www.royalartillerymuseum.com/our-collection/congreves-rocket-0 Lewes bombardment 1813 · Lewes, DE 6-7 Apr 1813 rockets in a 22-hour bombardment. (Royal Navy)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Bladensburg rocket rout 1814 · Bladensburg, MD Rockets routed US troops, opening the road to burn Washington (24 Aug 1814). (British army)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Fort McHenry 'rockets red glare' 1814 · Baltimore, MD Ship-launched Congreve rockets (13-14 Sep 1814) inspired the anthem line; did little damage. (Royal Navy)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Stonington rocket attack 1814 · Stonington, CT Aug 1814 rockets used. (Royal Navy)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Rocket troop at New Orleans 1815 · New Orleans, LA 40 gunners, 500 rockets landed near New Orleans for the 1814-15 campaign. (Capt. Henry Lane, 1st Rocket Troop)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Cochrane rockets at Callao 1819 · Callao, Peru Congreve rockets used against the Spanish fleet in the 1819 blockades; 'disappointing result'. (Chilean squadron under Thomas Cochrane)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cochrane_campaign Fierro 'Procesion civica de negros' 1821 1821 · Lima, Peru Watercolour of an Afro-Peruvian civic procession of 1821 with flags and music. Artist confirmed by catalogue. Painted later (Fierro was ~12-14 in 1821). Rockets in sky: not mentioned in catalogue text. (Pancho Fierro (c.1807/09-1879), son of a held woman, freed at birth)https://visual.linkgua-ediciones.com/en/imagen/procesion-civica-de-negros-en-lima-pancho-fierro Lima independence proclamation 1821 · Lima, Peru 28 Jul 1821 proclamation; fireworks at the festivities need a primary source. (San Martin and Lima crowds)https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-fiestas-patrias-se-celebra-28-julio-cada-ano-peru-948469.aspx Robertson ascent, Havana 1828 · Havana, Cuba 19 Mar 1828 from Plaza de Armas; seems Cuba's first aeronaut. (Eugenio Robertson)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas Blineau ascent, first Cuban-born 1831 · Havana, Cuba 3 May 1831 from Campo de Marte. (Jose Domingo Blineau)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas Flores ascent, Lima 1840 · Plaza de Acho, Lima, Peru 24 Sep 1840 balloon ascent in Lima. (Jose Maria Flores)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas Leon Acosta flights, Mexico 1842 · Mexico City / Guanajuato Mexico-made balloon; flights dated 26 Feb and 3 Apr 1842 (source does not reconcile). (Benito Leon Acosta)https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/primer-vuelo-en-globo-mexico.html Fierro 'Indio ... cargando cohetes' 1850 · Peruvian highlands Watercolour titled as an Indigenous man carrying rockets (tags: cohetes, beeswax) to the sierra: rockets as trade goods for highland fiestas. (Pancho Fierro)https://visual.linkgua-ediciones.com/en/imagen/indio-cargando-bultos-en-la-sierra-pancho-fierro Tultepec pyrotechnics 1850 · Tultepec, Mexico State Colonial-era gunpowder making from local materials; fireworks craft ~150 years; toritos parade 8 March; national festival since 1989. (Tultepec pyrotechnic guild (patron San Juan de Dios))https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pyrotechnic_Festival Sonora Aero Club 1855 · Sonora, CA Secret 1850s flying club with 'NB gas'. Test: census, voting and death records searched; no members found in Sonora. (Charles Dellschau (claimed draftsman))https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dellschau Matias Perez disappearance 1856 · Havana, Cuba Ascents 12 and 29 Jun 1856; never found after the second. (Matias Perez)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas Paraguayan rockets 1865 · Riachuelo / Paraguay Congreve rockets at Riachuelo (11 Jun 1865), Tuyuti (24 May 1866), Curupayty (22 Sep 1866) and others. (Paraguayan and Brazilian forces)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Brazilian army observation balloon 1866 · Paraguay war front Captive balloon used 6 Jul 1866 to watch Paraguayan artillery. (Brazilian army)https://www.ecured.cu/Ascensiones_aerost%C3%A1ticas Black circus aeronauts 1870 · United States Historian Matthew Wittmann: in circus ballooning from the 1870s, 'colored aeronauts' were fairly common, one of few circus lines open to African Americans. Names not yet found. (Unnamed 'colored aeronauts')https://matthewwittmann.com/?p=251 Claimed airship inventors 1896 1896 · San Francisco, CA Named as builders; recanted/denied; no craft produced. (George D. Collins (attorney), Dr. E.H. Benjamin, 'Dr. Catlin' via W.H.H. Hart)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_airship Great Airship wave begins 1896 · Sacramento, CA 17 Nov 1896 moving light reported; spread in California then Midwest/Texas Feb-May 1897. (Sacramento citizens; Sacramento Bee, SF Call)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_airship Aurora, Texas crash story 1897 · Aurora, TX Airship hit a windmill, pilot 'not an inhabitant of this world'. (Dallas Morning News, 19 Apr 1897)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_airship Hamilton 'calf' airship story 1897 · Leroy, KS 23 Apr 1897 story of a heifer lifted by airship; shown in 1977 to be a Liars' Club tall tale. (Alexander Hamilton)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_airship Dellschau aero drawings 1899 · Houston, TX Notebooks 1899-1922 of 'Aeros'; rescued from trash late 1960s; held at Menil and others. (Charles A. A. Dellschau (1830-1923))https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dellschau Pickering airship patent US 643,975 1900 · Gonaives, Ayiti Filed 19 Jul 1899, issued 20 Feb 1900: gas dome, motor-driven fans and valved ducts for lift, descent and steering. Often listed as an African American inventor; the patent itself places him in Ayiti and gives no race. Texas resolution says it was 'designed and tested' before the Wrights: no test rehttps://patents.google.com/patent/US643975 Sumpango and Santiago giant kites 1900 · Sumpango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala Giant barriletes built July-Oct, flown/shown 1 Nov; bearers say they connect the living and the dead. (Maya Kaqchikel communities)https://mcd.gob.gt/tecnica-de-elaboracion-de-los-barriletes-gigantes-de-santiago-y-sumpango-sacatepequez/ Page airship patent US 817,442 1906 · Pineville, LA Filed 24 Apr 1903, issued 10 Apr 1906: muslin-covered hull, two pumped gas bags, propeller and rudder. Family says he flew it and that it vanished en route to/at the 1904 St. Louis fair; no contemporary flight report found yet. (Charles Frederick Page (c.1864-1937), Black inventor born into bondage)https://patents.google.com/patent/US817442 Condor I Nazca balloon test 1975 · Nazca, Peru 28 Nov 1975: cotton-envelope balloon with reed/fibre basket flown over the Nazca plain to test if the line-makers could have flown. Proves it is physically possible with local-type materials; does not prove it was done. (Jim Woodman, Julian Nott; International Explorers Society)https://newspaperrock.bluecorncomics.com/2007/06/hot-air-over-nazca.html Nazca textile and ceramic 'balloon' claims 1975 · Nazca, Peru Fine textiles, braided rope in graves; one pot said to show a balloon with tie ropes. Test: the textiles are balloon-grade cloth but no envelope, burner pit or rigging has been found; the pot has not been identified by museum number in sources checked. Theory called 'largely discredited' by critics.https://newspaperrock.bluecorncomics.com/2007/06/hot-air-over-nazca.html Nott repeat Nazca flight 2002 · Nazca, Peru Dec 2002 repeat flight for Japanese TV. (Julian Nott)https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25265/lot/69/project-nazca-archive-group-of-material-related-to-the-historic-balloon-flights-at-nazca-peru Voladores of Papantla 2009 · Papantla, Veracruz Four flyers spin down on ropes from an 18-40 m pole while the Caporal plays to sun and four winds; UNESCO list 2009. (Totonac and other peoples of Mexico and Central America)https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ritual-ceremony-of-the-voladores-00175 Bidanooru fort well rocket cache 2018 · Nagara, Shivamogga, India Over 1,000 iron-cased rockets (23-26 cm) dug from a well, July 2018; mostly Tipu era. (Karnataka Archaeology Dept.)https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/1000-war-rockets-tipu-sultan-unearthed-karnataka-fort-85594