François Laurent d'Arlandes

First untethered voyage by Pilâtre de Rozier and d'Arlandes, November 21, 1783. Illustration from the late 19th Century.

François Laurent Marquis d'Arlandes (1742 - May 1, 1809) was a pioneer of hot air ballooning along with Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier. They flew for the first time in Paris on November 21, 1783. They took off at 2 p.m. from Château de la Muette in Paris, in the presence of the king Louis XVI. They travelled about five and a half miles (almost 9 km) for about 25 minutes; the first 'free flight' made by man. After the flight, the pilots drank champagne to placate them and to celebrate the flight, a tradition carried on by balloonists to this day.

first hot air balloon video

History

D'Arlandes met Joseph Montgolfier at the Jesuit college of Tournon. He died on May 1, 1809 in his castle of Saleton near Anneyron.