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Balloon and parachute

Balloon and parachute


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Balloon and parachute

Balloon and parachute. Historical artwork of a parachute suspended from the basket of the Royal Vauxhall hot air balloon. It took off from Vauxhall Gardens in London, England on 24 July 1837 with Robert Cocking in his parachute beneath. After rising to 1.5 kilometres, Cocking released his parachute, which tragically failed. It was too heavy and the stitching was not strong enough to prevent the canopy disintegrating during the descent. Cocking died from injuries sustained during the fall. He was the first person ever to die in a parachute accident. Published in A system of aeronautics...by John Wise, Philadelphia, 1850

Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations

Media ID 6441525

© SCIENCE, INDUSTRY & BUSINESS LIBRARY/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

1850 19th Ballooning Drawing Flight History Of Science Hot Air Balloon Nineteenth Century Parachute Robert Sketch Transport Transportation Vertical Cocking Mono Chrome


EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting print captures a tragic moment in the history of aviation. The artwork depicts the ill-fated flight of the Royal Vauxhall hot air balloon on 24 July 1837, with Robert Cocking suspended beneath in his parachute. As the balloon soared to a height of 1.5 kilometers, Cocking bravely released his parachute, only to face a devastating outcome. The parachute, unfortunately, proved too heavy and its stitching not strong enough to withstand the descent. Tragically, as Cocking plummeted towards the ground, the canopy disintegrated, leading to fatal injuries upon impact. This heartbreaking incident marked him as the first person ever to lose their life in a parachute accident. Published in John Wise's "A system of aeronautics" in Philadelphia during 1850, this historical artwork serves as a poignant reminder of humanity's relentless pursuit of flight and exploration during the nineteenth century. It showcases both our technological advancements and our willingness to take risks for progress. As we gaze at this monochrome illustration with awe and sorrow intertwined, it transports us back in time—a testament to how far we have come since those early days of ballooning and parachuting experiments. Let us remember Robert Cocking's bravery while acknowledging that even great leaps forward can sometimes be accompanied by heart-wrenching setbacks like this one captured forever within these lines on paper.

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