Charles Knotek: First Manned Flight Across English Channel

Artist: Charles Knotek
1933 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1983
Image Size: 16.25 by 12.75 inches
Overall Size: 20 by 15 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board

One lofty goal attracted French and English aeronauts more than any other -- to be the first to cross the treacherous English Channel by air. Already a veteran aeronaut, Jean Pierre Blanchard was quickly caught up in the excitement and challenge of such a daring feat. So, he found a partner -- physician, Dr. John Jeffries from Boston -- and began to plan the trip. The two aeronauts secured a balloon and quickly supplied its gondola with food, brandy, bags of ballast and cork jackets (to be used as life preservers). As the balloon lifted off with Blanchard and Dr. Jeffries as passengers, it slowly rose high above the white cliffs of Dover at about one o'clock in the afternoon. Soon, Blanchard found a gentle westerly wind which directed them over the Strait of Dover and toward the French coast. Two-thirds of the way to France, the balloon dipped dangerously close to the water and the men were forced to jettison their ballast. However, this was of little help, so they threw everything from the gondola, including equipment, food, and even their clothing! With the reduction of weight, the balloon soon recovered altitude, and in a matter of a few hours the historic trip was complete. Thus, on January 7, 1785, Jean Pierre Blanchard and Dr. Jeffries became the very first men to cross the English Channel in a balloon.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Commemorative Cover for the Man's Conquest of the Heavens series issued in 1983.

Artwork Copyright © 1983 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB08036

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