July 24, 1808 - First life saved by parachute

[mdrejhon 8]

Discovered this little gem recently.

This year is apparently the 200th anniversary of the first life saved by parachute. (In this case, from a burning hot-air balloon)

From this PDF file (page 1 and 2), and also supposedly mentioned in the Guiness Book of Aircraft

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In four Polish books on the history of aeronautics, [1956, 1957, 1968] there is mentioned also ... the Moldovanian Kuparenko, ... Moldovanian Kuparentko (...decribed by some authors as Polish aeronaut), ... Moldovanian Jordaki Kuparenko ... with his ascents in the air. Two authors mention that during one ascent in the air, the balloon took fire and the aeronaut saved himself using a parachute. The ascents in the air of Cuparencu were mentioned in two articles from GazetaWarszawska. The first one (2.07.1808, p.877) – is an invitation to the public: – Cuparencu presents in a public demonstration in Warsaw, at his third ascension, a new balloon, invented by himself. The first ascent was made in Warsaw in 1806, and the second one in Vilnius, at December 6, 1806, when he rose to a high altitude and covered a distanceof approx. 2,5 km (short version of the article); From the second (24.07.1808, p.980) – a reportage, we learn that: –Place, date and hour of the third ascent: Foksal garden in Warsaw, July 24, 1808, 20.00 hours. During the ascent, Cuparencu took some altitude measurements (pressure) and temperature. He rose to an altitude of 3882 parisienne feet (approx. 1281 m). An unexpected weather change made his balloon tore apart because of the wind and the balloon took fire from the heat source. The bottom of the balloon gallery served as a parachute, which he used and safely returned to the Earth (short version).The article about Kuparenko Jordaki, published in 1864 in Warsaw, in the 16thVolume of the Encyclopaedia Orgelbrand, brought some essential data which we shortly present now: – Born in 1784, when he was 15 years old he went to Iassy as painter in a theatre. He joins the moving acrobatics team of Kolter. Married Kolter’s daughter. In 1804, hearrived to Warsaw with his team. Gives some acrobatics representations in 1576, Bracka street, we injured himself and renounced acrobatics for fireworks. In 1806, he conceives and builds a hot air balloon, with a heat source and a nacelle. The first public ascent is made in Warsaw (Foxal garden) in June 1806 when he arrives to St. Cross Church, then the balloon takes fire and he escapes. At the second ascent, in Vilnius, December 6, 1806, he used again a paper balloon. He covers a distance of 2.5 km and safely returns to Earth with his balloon. At the third ascent, in Warsaw, July24, 1808, he raised into the air at 20 hours from the Foxal garden. He rose to an altitude of approx. 1281 m. The balloon took fire during the descent, but Cuparencu saved himself. In 1811, he joins the Polish army as a lieutenant. In 1827 he invented a complex musical device named „Buzuton” which he presents at an Exhibition in 1828. In 1830, he developed, presents and gives representations with the Mechanical Theatre. In 1842, he presents and gives representations with the new „Pitoresque” mechanical theater. Dies in 1844, at 60 years old. Buried in the Greek-Orthodox cemetery of Wola.

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The Guinness Book of Aircraft, another reference work, (edition of 1996 – p. 16, chapter Balloons and Airships) presents Cuparencu: The first man to survive the destruction of his hot-air balloon while in flight was R. Jordaki Kuparanto who, on 24 July 1808, baled out of a Montgolfier balloon that caught fire. Luckily Kuparanto had taken the precaution of ascending with a parachute as part of his equipment. On page 65, chapter Parachutes, Kites and Gliders one may read: The first man to bale out of a damaged aircraft with a parachute and survive was R. Jordaki Kuparanto who, on 24 July 1808, escaped from his Montgolfier hot-air balloon when it caught fire over Warsaw, Poland. We must underline that the both works do not mention the nationality of the aeronaut, but the place of he event.

[JohnRich 4]

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An unexpected weather change made his balloon tore apart because of the wind and the balloon took fire from the heat source. The bottom of the balloon gallery served as a parachute, which he used and safely returned to the Earth

Neat article! But I wonder what it means by; "the bottom of the balloon gallery served as a parachute"?

The gallery I take it would be the basket. But a basket can't be a parachute. Perhaps the parachute was stowed underneath the basket?

[mdrejhon 8]

From reading parachute history, it was not until 1880's when they used collapsible silk parachutes.

Before then, there was a rigid frame in all the early parachutes. So my assumption is that it was a parachute with a rigid frame hanging from underneath the hot-air balloon, or even integrated somehow (theoretically)