Early Hot Air Ballooning in Australia

including

Grahame Wilson's Writing ..>

and a little Art.

The Montgolfier brothers in 1783 are believed to be the first people to fly using a hot air balloon. The first balloon flight in Australia was around 1858, by Joseph Dean in Sydney.

I started this website as a history, not of that period but beginning around 1962 with the Aerostat Society of Australia. I have added details of my two visits to the airship sheds at Cardington, one in 1971, another in 2001 to see the early development of a hybrid airship. I have sections on 'Flight theory', 'Parachuting around 1965, 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo' - as well as my own art and writing.

Terry had no helmet, and had to drop his parachute in order to get enough lift. Archimedes, with its tiny burner, struggled to maintain height. it initially dropped into a gully followed by the large crowd of spectators.
After 15 mins, Terry reached 2,000ft, and had travelled 3 miles.

.... In 1962, a group of Sydney University students began experimenting with hot air balloons.They formed the Aerostat Society of Australia, under the leadership of Terry McCormack.

At the University, after building a small test balloon, they followed with 'Archimedes'. When Terry McCormack piloted 'Archimedes', he made the first hot-air flight in Australia after a break of over forty years.(see video).

Many pictures of interest to the Balloon or Airship Enthusiast.

The British R100 and R101 were built in the massive hangers at RAF Cardington, near Bedford in 1929.

The author visited Cardington in 1971, to view the launching of a Goodyear Blimp.

Again in 2001, I saw the revolutionary 'SkyCat' Airship in development.

arty

Around 1967, parachuting introduced me to ballooning and the Aerostat Society.

After the President, Terry McCormack resigned, I ran the club for about a year.

A hang gliding accident left me in a wheelchair in 1981. Now retired, it gives me time for Story Writing & Watercolours.

Teijin I was a huge balloon, 60ft in diameter.(see video) It was 75ft high.
At the time, it was the largest hot air balloon in the world. On the 12th of Oct 1965 , Teijin I had its very first test flight at St. Paul's Oval next to Sydney University.
Several ascents were made, carrying up to six people.
A drunken bystander heard somebody call out, "Pull us down". He did, but then.....

The crash of Teijin was demoralising to the foundation members.Terry and most of the others left, so the Aerostat Society was virtually a new society. We used Archimedes to generate funds to build a larger film balloon. I was science teaching at Naremburn Boys High in Sydney. School holidays were coming up, and the headmaster allowed us to use the assembly hall as a balloon factory.

Want to have a fun fly in a balloon ?

The links are here. Like to experience a balloon flight in other parts of Australia, or in NZ, Holland, UK, Turkey or elsewhere ? You could learn how to fly a balloon. Get a balloon pilots licence. Start by being part of a ground crew.

The Aerostat Society had been approached by Fauna Productions, the makers of 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'. They wanted to make a TV episode involving a hot air balloon.

We had EGO flying over the Hawkesbury River. Ken Bath and I made a parachute jump for the film.

The film was completed, but it was the end of our balloon...

History and theory of winged aircraft, propellers, engines, helicopters.

History and theory of Balloons and Airships.

History and development of rockets, from the German V2 to the Space Shuttle.

stan After opening the parachute, I looked up to check the canopy and spotted Teijin above. Teijin was red and white on the outside, however, I could see it turning silver, and realised it was ripping vertically and turning itself inside out.

Hanging there helpless, I saw Stan, and then, Don jump. They had no parachute training whatsoever. The huge but deflating balloon passed between them, and as it came closer, the remaining air burst out of the crown. I heard a flapping roar as it shot past and slammed into the ground, which by then, was not far below.

The new balloons' size was dictated simply by the amount of plastic film we had inherited. We called it, "EGO". We no money for anything better. We began our trials at the old Sydney Showground. At that time 1965, It was illegal to fly a balloon unless it was tethered - and no higher than 200ft. There was no formal balloon training, although a few of us began trying to initiate a pilots licencing scheme with the then Department of Civil Aviation. (Now CASA).

To fly free of a tether, we had to travel 250 Kms (150 miles) west from Sydney.

This is a brief view of sport parachuting around 1965. A typical "rig" for the time would be an ex-military back pack, possibly from a pilot of the Korean war. Most jumpers used a 28ft diameter military canopy, with slots cut in the rear to give some manoeurability.

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Early Hot Air Ballooning in Australia
	including
	Grahame Wilson's Writing ..>
	and a little Art.
The Montgolfier brothers in 1783 are believed to be the first people to fly using a hot air balloon. The first balloon flight in Australia was around 1858, by Joseph Dean in Sydney. I started this website as a history, not of that period but beginning around 1962 with the Aerostat Society of Australia. I have added details of my two visits to the airship sheds at Cardington, one in 1971, another in 2001 to see the early development of a hybrid airship. I have sections on 'Flight theory', 'Parachuting around 1965, 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo' - as well as my own art and writing.	Terry had no helmet, and had to drop his parachute in order to get enough lift. Archimedes, with its tiny burner, struggled to maintain height. it initially dropped into a gully followed by the large crowd of spectators. After 15 mins, Terry reached 2,000ft, and had travelled 3 miles.
	.... In 1962, a group of Sydney University students began experimenting with hot air balloons.They formed the Aerostat Society of Australia, under the leadership of Terry McCormack. At the University, after building a small test balloon, they followed with 'Archimedes'. When Terry McCormack piloted 'Archimedes', he made the first hot-air flight in Australia after a break of over forty years.(see video).
Many pictures of interest to the Balloon or Airship Enthusiast. The British R100 and R101 were built in the massive hangers at RAF Cardington, near Bedford in 1929. The author visited Cardington in 1971, to view the launching of a Goodyear Blimp. Again in 2001, I saw the revolutionary 'SkyCat' Airship in development. Around 1967, parachuting introduced me to ballooning and the Aerostat Society. After the President, Terry McCormack resigned, I ran the club for about a year. A hang gliding accident left me in a wheelchair in 1981. Now retired, it gives me time for Story Writing & Watercolours. Teijin I was a huge balloon, 60ft in diameter.(see video) It was 75ft high. At the time, it was the largest hot air balloon in the world. On the 12th of Oct 1965 , Teijin I had its very first test flight at St. Paul's Oval next to Sydney University. Several ascents were made, carrying up to six people. A drunken bystander heard somebody call out, "Pull us down". He did, but then.....	The crash of Teijin was demoralising to the foundation members.Terry and most of the others left, so the Aerostat Society was virtually a new society. We used Archimedes to generate funds to build a larger film balloon. I was science teaching at Naremburn Boys High in Sydney. School holidays were coming up, and the headmaster allowed us to use the assembly hall as a balloon factory. Want to have a fun fly in a balloon ? The links are here. Like to experience a balloon flight in other parts of Australia, or in NZ, Holland, UK, Turkey or elsewhere ? You could learn how to fly a balloon. Get a balloon pilots licence. Start by being part of a ground crew. The Aerostat Society had been approached by Fauna Productions, the makers of 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'. They wanted to make a TV episode involving a hot air balloon. We had EGO flying over the Hawkesbury River. Ken Bath and I made a parachute jump for the film. The film was completed, but it was the end of our balloon...	History and theory of winged aircraft, propellers, engines, helicopters. History and theory of Balloons and Airships. History and development of rockets, from the German V2 to the Space Shuttle.
After opening the parachute, I looked up to check the canopy and spotted Teijin above. Teijin was red and white on the outside, however, I could see it turning silver, and realised it was ripping vertically and turning itself inside out. Hanging there helpless, I saw Stan, and then, Don jump. They had no parachute training whatsoever. The huge but deflating balloon passed between them, and as it came closer, the remaining air burst out of the crown. I heard a flapping roar as it shot past and slammed into the ground, which by then, was not far below.

The new balloons' size was dictated simply by the amount of plastic film we had inherited. We called it, "EGO". We no money for anything better. We began our trials at the old Sydney Showground. At that time 1965, It was illegal to fly a balloon unless it was tethered - and no higher than 200ft. There was no formal balloon training, although a few of us began trying to initiate a pilots licencing scheme with the then Department of Civil Aviation. (Now CASA). To fly free of a tether, we had to travel 250 Kms (150 miles) west from Sydney.

This is a brief view of sport parachuting around 1965. A typical "rig" for the time would be an ex-military back pack, possibly from a pilot of the Korean war. Most jumpers used a 28ft diameter military canopy, with slots cut in the rear to give some manoeurability.
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Roll your mouse as you explore, then give a click to find out more. . . . . . . . . Roll your mouse as you explore, then give a click to find out more. . . . . . . . .