Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier

The first pioneer (and fatality) in the air conquest

We know the Montgolfier brothers, Leonardo da Vinci, the Wright brothers, but quite less Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier (born in Metz, Lorraine - March 30th, 1754 - June 15th, 1785). However, he is the first man to have the courage to fly in the airs on board an astonishing machine, manufactured only a couple of months ago by Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier (two brothers from Annonay - Ardeche). After the first test without basket and passengers and then the complementary flight with animals, the King Louis XVI doesn't want to kill one of his subjects and proposes to send doomed people instead.

Pilâtre de Rozier, a freemason, friend of Benjamin Franklin, Lafayette and other decision makers, has just created a Sciences Museum in Paris. Surprised and interested, the King's court accepts the project of Jean-François and gives him the possibility to be the first to fly. During several weeks, he modifies and tests the balloon, then flies with the "Marquis d' Arlandes" on November 21st, 1783. He carries out the first world record of distance, altitude and duration. His fame exceeds soon France and extends to the whole world. The Man achieved his dream: to fly in the air. Pilâtre de Rozier invented the first gas mask, the matches and many other inventions, but he continues his experiments in ballooning. He manufactures "La Rozière", combination between a hot air balloon and a gas balloon (hydrogen) which has just been set up by the physicist Charles.

His 3rd flight will kill him. He intends the crossing France-England on June 15th, 1785, but the machine isn't ready. He dies on the French coast with his unfortunate flight companion Pierre Ange Romain, crushed on the ground after a vertiginous fall. Physicist chemist, he was also the creator of a new museum (a kind of "Conservatory of Arts and Crafts"). He is also the first air victim and the spiritual father of generations which will succeed him on board these strange machines: hot air balloons, gas balloons and "Rozières". Besides, it's with a "rozière" that Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones will carry out in March 1999 a round the world tour, so as Steve Fossett a few years later.

http://www.pilatre-de-rozier.com/toutsavoir_01_gb.asp