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 just on 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 (8 km) for about 20 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.

History

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

1742 births | 1809 deaths | Balloonists | François Laurent d'Arlandes