Hot Air balloon, Queen's Pier

Date(s): early 20th century

Place made: Douglas

Scope & Content: The first manned aerial ascent on the Isle of Man which took place from Peveril Square at 1:34pm on Monday, November 10th, 1902. The ascent was made by the well-known aeronauts Rev. John Mackenzie Bacon and Mr. Percival Spencer. The purpose of the flight was to undertake survey work for The Admiralty. This concerned signalling between a ship, HMS Renard, an Alarm Class Torpedo Guboat, and the balloon, and involved the balloon carrying what was referred to as a ‘collapsible drum’ through which signals would be sent by opening and shutting the drum in long and short pauses, as in the style of a signalling flag in semaphore, to HMS Renard which was tasked with supporting the flight by following the track of the balloon and returning messages. The inflation was completed at 12:55pm at which time the instruction was given to turn off the gas, and the feed pipe was detached. As the Pier Tower clock chimed 1:00pm, a gun went off in the bay, signalling the arrival of HMS Renard. By 1:25pm all was prepared, and tethered by guide ropes and canvas bags containing half a ton of sand, the balloon sat ready for its ascent. At 1:27pm Bacon & Spencer climbed into the basket, and at 1:34pm, with a shout of “Let go,” Spencer gave the command to let go the ropes, which the attending dockers proceeded to do, and “amidst the mightiest shout ever raised in the Island,” the balloon’s ascent began, with Spencer, having removed his cap, bowing repeatedly to the crowd. The first manned flight to ever occur on the Isle of Man was underway.

Information provided by Paul Quine, December 2021

Language: eng

Extent: 17.7 x 12.6 cm

Item name: Photograph

Collection: Photographic Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: PG/5842/04

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