Transportation Collection

Blanchard balloon flight to Frankfurt, Germany
Jean-Pierre Blanchards balloon flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Seen here flying above the crowds in a city park with a small parachute attached to the gondola. (1 of 2) 3 October 1785

Balloon designs by Charles & Robert and Montgolfier
Balloon designs by Charles and Robert (1, 5) and the Montgolfier Brothers (2, 3, 4). No. 3 ascended from Versailles. No. 4 ascended from the Chateau de la Muette. No

Blanchard balloon ascent, Rouen, France
Third balloon ascent of Jean-Pierre Blanchard, with Mr Boby, from the old barracks at Rouen. They later descended on the Plaine de Puissanval. 18 July 1784

Balloon event, Charles Green, Macclesfield
Charles Green ballooning poster advertising his 74th ascent, under the patronage of the Mayor and Magistrates, from the Gas Works near Waters Green, Macclesfield

Balloon descent, Beuvri near Bethune, France
View of the Plaine de Beuvri (or Beuvry) near the town of Bethune in Artois, north of Paris. Balloon descent by the Robert brothers and Colin Hullin near a windmill

Sophie Blanchard in balloon ascent, Milan
Sophie Blanchard (1778-1819), famous French aeronaut, in a night-time balloon ascent performed in Milan, Italy, in the presence of Napoleon, to mark his 42nd birthday. 15 August 1811

Count Zambeccaris balloon

Balloon descent at Gonesse, France
The first trial hydrogen balloon which ascended from the Champ de Mars, and descended in the village of Gonesse, north east of Paris

Balloon being filled with gas
Balloon in a yard, being filled with gas from a barrel in preparation for flight. late 18th century

Garnerin descending in his parachute, Paris
Garnerin descending in his parachute, with his discarded balloon on the left. Claimed to be the first to descend from a balloon by means of a parachute

Map, Battle of Fleurus
Map of the Battle of Fleurus - it was won by the French Army, with the first military use of a reconnaissance balloon. The hydrogen balloon L Entreprenant was used to pass messages to the ground

Le Suffren balloon ascent, Nantes
View of the Le Suffren balloon ascending from the garden of the orphanage, Nantes, France. Including the equipment used to raise and fill it. 14 June 1784

Montgolfier balloon, built in the garden of Jean-Baptiste Reveillon, Rue de Montreuil, Faubourg St Antoine, Paris, funded by the Academie Royale des Sciences. Depicted here being filled by gas

Balloon event, Charles Green, Stockport
Charles Green ballooning poster advertising his 75th ascent, from Stockport, under the patronage of Henry Hodgkinson, the Mayor, with a second ascent from Castle Yard, a band of music in attendance

Balloon ascent from Tuileries Chateau, Paris

Balloon ascent by Blanchard
Jean-Pierre Blanchards balloon, probably for the planned ascent from the Champ de Mars, Paris, 2 March 1784. A slightly fanciful representation of the balloon, parachute and carriage. circa 1784

Balloon ascent over Lyons, France
Balloon ascent over Lyons, containing Montgolfier the elder, Pilatre de Rosier, Prince Charles de Ligne, Le Comte de la Porte d Anglefort, Le Comte de Laurencin, Le Comte de Dampiere

Montgolfier balloon, ascent over Lyons, France
The Montgolfier balloon, Le Flesselle, which ascended over Lyons, France. 19 January 1784

Early balloon design, described as an aerostatic globe, with equipment to travel in the air by wind. A) The Vessel. B) Sails that are used according to the wind

Balloon event, Charles Green, Leicester
Charles Green ballooning poster, advertising his 411th ascent in his Royal Victoria Balloon, from the Cricket Ground, Leicester. With special trains laid on from nearby cities. 27 June 1849

Blanchards balloon and apparatus
A representation of Jean-Pierre Blanchards balloon and apparatus, with annotations. Below the large round balloon is a parachute, and under that two men in the gondola with wings for steering. 1780s

Balloon ascent by Blanchard, Champ de Mars, Paris
Balloon ascent by Jean-Pierre Blanchard from the Champ de Mars, Paris. 2 March 1784

Blanchard and Jeffries crossing English Channel
Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr John Jeffries crossing the English Channel by balloon. They left Dover, crossed the sea, and landed near Blanay, between Calais and Boulogne

Flying machine or airship
A flying machine or airship, 18th century copy of the one designed in the 17th century by Francesco Lana de Terzi, the Italian Jesuit, mathematician, naturalist and aeronautics pioneer. circa 1670

Balloon ascent, Champ de Mars, Paris
Balloon ascent by Montgolfier, d Anonai and Vivarais from the Champ de Mars, Paris. 27 August 1783

Balloon ascent from Prairie de Nesle, northern France
Balloon ascent by M Charles from the Prairie de Nesle, northern France, where it had landed after taking off from the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, on 1 December 1783

Blanchards balloon ascent, Little Chelsea

Balloon descent, Chateau de Beuvri, France
Balloon descent by the Robert brothers and Colin Hullin in front of the Chateau de Beuvry, near Bethune. They had ascended from the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, earlier the same day

Balloon built at Versailles
A balloon built at Versailles, France, and put on display there on a platform. It was 60 feet high and 40 feet in diameter, in blue and gold material

Balloon descent, Prairie de Billancourt, France
View of Jean-Pierre Blanchards balloon, which ascended from the Champ de Mars, Paris, and landed on the Prairie de Billancourt (on the Haute-de-Seine) later the same day. 2 March 1784

Festival for 14 July, Champs Elysees, Paris

Balloon ascent of Lunardi, Artillery Ground
Ascent of Lunardis celebrated air balloon from the Artillery Ground, London, watched by spectators. 15 September 1784

Balloon ascent from St Cloud, Paris

Satirical images of an Air Balloon
Set of 12 satirical images with captions of an Air Balloon, showing filling, flying, reaching the moon, coming back to earth, and bursting. 1784

French park festivities with fireworks and balloon

Battle of Fleurus with balloon
The Battle of Fleurus, won by the French Army, with the first military use of a reconnaissance balloon. The hydrogen balloon L Entreprenant was used to pass messages to the ground while the French

First balloon flight over the English Channel, from Dover to the French coast, by Jean-Pierre Blanchard. Seen here is the balloon in flight between Calais and Boulogne, with a fisherman

Hensons Aerial Steam Carriage
The Aerial Steam Carriage -- underside view with covering fabric in place. This flying machine was patented by William Samuel Henson (1812-1888) and John Stringfellow (1799-1883) in 1842. 1843

Balloon event, Charles Green, Chichester
Charles Green ballooning poster advertising his 25th ascent in the Coronation Balloon under the patronage of the Mayor, from the Gas Works, Chichester. 9 November 1824

Technical diagram of a flying machine, with measurements and annotations. The small red circle labelled C is the pilots seat. late 18th century

Balloon descent, Prairie de Nesle, France
Balloon descent of Charles and Robert onto the Prairie de Nesle, northern France, surrounded by various witnesses, including an English gentleman, Mr Fares, who was the first to greet M Charles

Montgolfier balloon in flight over Paris
First manned balloon ascent, made in the presence of the Dauphin, from the Jardin de la Muette, Paris, under the direction of Montgolfier

Balloon ascent from the Tuilieries Gardens, Paris
Second balloon ascent, made from the Tuileries Gardens by Charles and Robert, watched by a crowd of spectators. 1 December 1783

Balloon event, Charles Green, Stowmarket
Charles Green ballooning poster, advertising his 413rd ascent, from the Vicarage Grounds, Stowmarket in his Royal Victoria Balloon

Montgolfier balloon ascent, Versailles
Ascent of the Montgolfier balloon from Versailles, viewed by the King, the Royal Family and a large crowd of spectators. The balloon flew for eight minutes, then descended in the Bois de Vaucresson

Montgolfier balloon in flight over Lyons, France
General view of Lyons, France, taken from the top of the Faubourg de la Guillotiere, showing the Montgolfier balloon Le Flesselle in flight above the city. 19 January 1784

Air balloon of Charles and Robert, Paris
The air balloon of Charles and Robert, exhibited in Paris, from where they ascended from the Tuileries Gardens. 1 December 1783

Technical diagram of a flying machine, with pilot
Technical diagram of a flying machine, with measurements and annotations, and a pilot seated at the controls. circa late 18th century

Balloon ascent from Tuileries Gardens, Paris
A balloon which ascended from the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, on either 27 August or 1 December 1783. If on the earlier date, it may have been released without passengers, as a test run. 1783

Ornate balloon ascending, Paris
A large, ornate Montgolfier balloon ascending over Paris, with two passengers (probably Andre Giroud de Villette and Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier). With people on the launch site below

Mr Sadler in balloon over Oxford
To the Right Honourable Lord Grenville, Chancellor of the University of Oxford - the ascent of Mr Sadler, the celebrated British aeronaut, at Oxford. Showing two men with flags hovering in a balloon

Women floating in the air by the use of parasols with large butterflies attached, and wings on their shoes, gazed at from the ground by men with lorgnettes and telescopes. circa 18th century

Vauxhall Royal Balloon ascent
Vauxhall Royal Balloon, constructed by C Green, containing several people, ascending from the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, London. 9 September 1836

Balloon ascent from Seal, near Sevenoaks, Kent
Preparing a balloon for ascent from the Village of Seal, near Sevenoaks, Kent, during which Mr P Cornillot achieved horizontal steering at different heights. 23 August 1825

Sadler in balloon above Dublin, Ireland

Three ballooning personalities
Three miniature portraits of ballooning personalities, arranged in a triangle, with a small balloon at the centre, and signatures below

Tragic parachute accident of Mr Cocking
The tragic parachute accident of Mr R Cocking. The balloon ascended 5000 feet, the parachute was detached, was found to be damaged, and Mr Cocking fell to his death. He was 61 years old. 24 July 1837

Lunardi in a balloon
Lunardis Grand Air Balloon, engraved for the Aerostatic Spy 1 April 1785. Probably depicting his flight from the Artillery Grounds to Ware in Hertfordshire on 15 September 1784. 1785

Mr Green on horseback with his balloon
Article and illustration, Ascension of Mr Green with his Balloon, on Horseback, on Tuesday from the Eagle Tavern, City Road, with an Account of his Descent at Beckenham in Kent. 1828

Satirical ballooning image
A rude satirical image of large and small balloons tied together, lifting a cannon, entitled The Montgolsier. A first rate of the French Aerial Navy. A Fart, an Ass, a Fool, A Monkey, a Nothing. 1783

The Aerial Steam Carriage, or Ariel. An artists imaginary representation of a propeller-driven flying machine with wings. By Permission of the Patentees, this Engraving of The First Carriage

Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley Mk. V aeroplane
Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley Mk. V Z6625 aeroplane in camouflage colours. 1940s

Rescue of Major Money off the coast of Yarmouth

Flying Globe and Air Balloon
Two fanciful technical drawings. Above is a Globe Volant (Flying Globe) in which Giroud de Villette and M Rozier passed over Paris on 19 October 1783

Supermarine Type 365 Spitfire aeroplane
Supermarine Type 365 Spitfire P.R. Mk. XI aeroplane, in blue with black and white stripes. 1940s

Satirical ballooning cartoon, Lord Grenville
He Steers His Flight. Satirical cartoon on the subject of Lord Grenvilles installation as Chancellor of Oxford University

Handley Page Harrow K6962 aeroplane in camouflage colours. 1940s

Royal Family viewing balloon ascent, Windsor
The Royal Family viewing a balloon ascent in the garden of Windsor Castle. 1784

Balloon race, Green brothers
Scene during a balloon race between Charles Green and his brother, which began at the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, London. Seen here is one balloon which has descended into slightly rough water

Montgolfier balloon, Champ de Mars, Paris
Montgolfiers air balloon above the Champ de Mars, Paris, watched by a large crowd. 27 August 1783

Opening of New Hungerford Market, London
Crowds of people at the opening of New Hungerford Market, London, with Mr Graham ascending in his balloon. 2 July 1833

Balloon with parachute, tragic accident of Mr Cocking
The Royal Vauxhall Nassau Balloon with Mr Cockings Parachute attached as they ascended from the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall. At the bottom are two sketches of the release hook. 24 July 1837

Opening of the New Hungerford Market
View during the opening of the New Hungerford Market, with boats on the River Thames, and a balloon in the sky, piloted by Mr Graham. 2 July 1833

Ascent of Coxwells balloon, Crystal Palace, London
The scientific ascent of Mr H Coxwells Mammoth Balloon from the Crystal Palace, London. Listing below the names of various passengers of Mr Coxwell. 1862

The Great Aerial Navigator, or Atmospheric Machine! An article with a detailed diagram showing an aerial machine claimed to be capable of transportation to India and China in the space of five days

Spanish lottery game for children, Neuva Loteria De Los Globos (Juego para les ninos.) Num. 57. Made up of 52 small pictograms of various fanciful balloon designs. 1867

Westland Wyvern VP120 aeroplane, in silver. 1940s

Blanchard balloon ascent over Nuremberg, Germany

Balloon launch from a stadium, Italy
Detailed picture showing the paraphernalia of a balloon launch, seen inside a stadium in Italy, with two wooden launch towers, gantry, gas making equipment, and a large crowd of spectators

Boeing B-17 aeroplanes, one in blue, the other in camouflage colours. 1940s

Satirical cartoon, Rural Sports, Balloon Hunting

Page of prospectus, Aeronautic Association
Page of a prospectus promoting the purchase of shares in the balloon company, Aeronautic Association - For promoting geographical surveys of some of the remaining undiscovered tracts of the globe To

Ornately decorated balloon in flight
An ornately decorated balloon in flight, possibly over Islington, North London. 1815

Martin Baker M. B. 5 aeroplane
Martin Baker M.B.5 aeroplane in camouflage colours. 1940s

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