Home          Your notes are welcome: Editor@UpperWindpower.com             Most recent edit: Friday January 25, 2013

Joseph W. Simmons, Joseph Simmons,

Some aviation book:

SIMMONS, Joseph W. ENGLAND (1840?1888) K (GB)
d: 27 Aug.1888, Witham (Ulting). 
p: Balloonist 1858-88 era; Protege of A.PULLMAN; Known for his courage, skill, and narrow escapes. 
f: First B-Flight 29 Sep.1858 from Bolton w/Claude de CRESPENY; First Solo flight 1862 from Bolton; Made 495-500 flights in his lifetime. 
l: Crossed the English Channel 5 times (rescued twice from N.Sea) (crossed in 12 minutes on his first attempt, June 1882); Crossed Irish Sea in Jun.1882 (w/CRESPENY) from Maldon to Arras; Dropped GROFF on his fateful Glider attempt 9 July 1874; Flew in Egypt, France (1883), India, & USA. ***Epic flight 11 Sep.1874 from Woolrich in a hot-air balloon. Balloon was 80' in diameter, and similar to present day design. It was made of a light/tight weave of cambric fabric, and a burner that vaporized "petroleum oil." Balloon was built by M.MENIER. ***Epic flight 27 Aug.1888 (w/ Myers & Field) from the Flower Show Grounds at Olympia in "Cosmo." Cross Channel flight attempt, ended after 1.5 hours, in a high-wind landing. Grapnel caught suddenly in the trees, and the balloon burst at 50'. The all-metal gondola, built for strength (but no resiliency), was thrown to the ground. The aeronauts suffered serious injuries, and the pilot died of a fractured skull. 
r: LT-28 Aug.1888. 
r: NT-24 Sep.1874/4/7; LT-28 Aug.1888.

  Perhaps an "anachronistic Rogallo" paraglider system to those inculcated with the media recognized "Rogallo Revolution."  The paper book has a high-quality image; our clip does not show the keel very well.  See book, if you can find it.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Let us know you and your interests.
News, notes, documents, files:  Editor@UpperWindpower.com
~~Kite Energy Community~~