DR JENNER'S BALLOON FLIGHT REPLICATED 240 YEARS ON
The county's first hydrogen balloon flight has been recreated by aviation enthusiasts on its 240th anniversary.
Father of immunology Edward Jenner took to the skies from the Inner Keep at Berkeley Castle at 14.00 on 2 September 1784.
Project manager John Hamblett, of Cotswold Aviation Restoration Group, was able to create a replica of Dr Jenner's balloon in preparation for an anniversary flight by reading old newspaper articles from the time.
While the replica did not lift off as it was "too heavy", the group was "happy" it at least inflated.
Dr Jenner, who was born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, created the first smallpox vaccine.
Following his ascent in September 1784, Dr Jenner floated into the skies above Gloucestershire before landing 10 miles away at Kingscote, scaring farm workers.
Mr Hamblett produced the replica balloon in two months, attempting to make it float before a crowd on Monday.
"We originally wanted to use the original materials - silk and taffeta - but the costs would be too prohibitive," he told the BBC.
"There's no actual images of the balloon, but the Bath Chronicle had quite a good description of the height and width."
Mr Hamblett made a smaller model of the balloon, which was 75% the size of the original, standing at around 6ft x 4ft (1.83m x 1.22m).
Nick Parker, chair of Cotswold Aviation Restoration Group, said it was "really poignant" day.
"So much of it is forgotten or not known, but we wanted to do a celebration that actually had a practical illustration of what went on," he said of Monday's attempt.
"John has worked so hard to recreate this balloon with very limited materials and not the ability to test it before we actually flew it so anything was good today.
"It's just a shame that It's too heavy [for the helium to lift it]."
The group chose not to use hydrogen as it's "too explosive" and the demonstration was taking place in a confined area.
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