Unidentified flying object approaching from Prague – Balloon journeys as a spectacular show

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Joseph II did not think much of the craze for the balloon flights which people got so excited about at the end of the eighteenth century. The first manned balloon flight in the Monarchy did not take place until after his death.

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The flights undertaken by Jean Louis Pierre Blanchard, a French balloonist, had caused a great deal of excitement among people in many of Europe’s cities. Vienna was one of the places on his programme, but Joseph II showed no interest whatsoever in such a display.

Even before the emperor refused to allow such an appearance there had initially been little interest in Vienna. First Alois von Widmannstätter, a printer from Graz, and then Johann Georg Stuwer, Imperial-Royal Firework Impresario in Vienna, had organized some unmanned balloon flights, but with little success. Stuwer’s flights were grandly announced in the Wiener Zeitung, the official gazette, but little came of them.

By way of contrast, the first flights by Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier in Paris and other European cities had unleashed a veritable aviation euphoria which spread to every possible side of life. Clocks, porcelain, wallpaper and fans were decorated with motifs showing a balloon in flight. It was not long before the first manned balloon flights took place.

Finally, in December 1790, it was the turn of Vienna: Jean Blanchard’s balloon approached the city from the direction of Prague and after landing could be inspected for a fee of ten kreuzer. However, the Viennese had still to wait some time before they could witness the spectacle of a manned balloon lifting off. This was because Johann Stuwer did not want to make his firework display site in the Prater available to Blanchard. Once this quarrel had been settled and after some unsuccessful attempts the French balloonist was at last able to thrill the Viennese too.

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Antwort Josephs II. am 2. Mai 1786 auf eine briefliche Bitte

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Ankündigung in der Wiener Zeitung, 20. März 1784

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Stangler, Gottfried: Die Ballonfahrt, in: Amt der niederösterreichischen Landesregierung (Hrsg.): Niederösterreichische Landesausstellung. Österreich zur Zeit Kaiser Joseph II. Mitregent, Kaiser und Landesfürst. Stift Melk 29. Mai – 2. November 1980, 4. Auflage, Wien 1980, 146-147.

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