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The
International Balloon Festival
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, is the biggest hot air balloon festival of its
kind in Canada. The perfect place to discover the hot air balloon sport !
How a hot air balloon works is quite simple: the hot air balloon is a
device, also called an "aerostat", that, once full of hot air (lighter
than the ambient air), can fly through the atmosphere using the wind.
History
Since the dawn of time, man has wished to move about in the air, just like
birds do... Icarus' dream! On June 4, 1783 the first hot air
balloon ever takes off. The Montgolfier brothers' balloon was propelled by
a fire fed by straw, damp wool, and old shoes. On November 21, 1783
The Montgolfier brothers are at it again. Jean-François de Rozier and his
associate, Francois Laurent, Marquis of Arlandes, become the first humans
to live Icarus' dream...On December 1, 1783, Jacques Alexandre César
Charles makes the first solo flight. He travels over 36 km, at an altitude
of 3,500 m. On January 19, 1784, Joseph Montgolfier flies aboard
his invention for the very first time. He acconmpanies 6 other passengers
aboard the Flesselles, including Jean-François de Rozier.
200 years later...August 20 to 26, 1984, during four days, the
first Hot Air Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu welcomes 20 hot
air balloons and attracts 60,000 visitors. |
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