Olympic torch soars over Paris in trailblazing aviation tribute
The Olympic torch was lit in Paris. For the first time in history, the ceremony was organized outside of a stadium. Additionally, the Olympic symbol is a balloon floating over the city, marking a groundbreaking moment in aviation history for the French. Their trailblazing torch "burns" without fire.
The Olympic torch is “burning” in Jardin des Tuileries, precisely where the first experimental balloon flights took place. It was indeed the French who pioneered aviation long before the Wright brothers' historic flight on 17 December 1903.
On 5 June 1783, the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne, launched a balloon filled with hot air, known as the montgolfière. The balloon had a diameter of approximately 12 metres. However, this flight was unmanned. On 19 September of the same year, the Montgolfier brothers conducted the first manned flight, albeit with an unusual crew comprising a sheep, a duck, and a rooster. The balloon ascended to an altitude of 1,600 to 3,000 metres and covered around 2 kilometres in 10 minutes.
First balloon flights
Animals were initially sent up because in the 18th century it was feared humans might not survive at such heights. The sheep, duck, and rooster safely returned to the ground. The first human flight in a balloon occurred on 21 November 1783. The crew, consisting of Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes, travelled a distance of 9 kilometres at an altitude of 1,000 metres in about 25 minutes.
In between those flights, also in Paris, on 27 August 1783, Prof. Charles Jacques Alexandre César demonstrated another balloon. This balloon had a diameter of approximately 4 metres, a rubberised fabric coating, and was filled with hydrogen, which is lighter than air.
Balloons filled with hot air still have applications today. They are most commonly associated with sightseeing flights or sports competitions, but they are also used for meteorological measurements and reconnaissance observations. Hot-air balloons also paved the way for airships.
The olympic torch in Paris. What do we know about it?
The unusual Olympic torch in Paris caused some consternation, with questions arising about whether it would float over Paris throughout the entire duration of the sports competitions. However, that was not the organisers' intention.
The "actual" part of the Olympic torch is a cauldron with a ring of fire 7 metres in diameter, suspended under the balloon. The entire structure is 30 metres tall. Each day of the Olympics, after sunset, it will rise to a height of 60 metres and hover above Paris, while being tethered to the ground.
The balloon is neither a traditional "bag" filled with hot air nor is the Olympic flame a traditional flame. The flame of the Olympic torch in Paris is entirely electric. The ring produces a cloud of water aerosol, illuminated to a "fiery" colour by 40 LED spotlights. This innovation is supported by the French energy giant EDF.
The unique construction will be available for close viewing during the Olympics until 10 August. The public can book 15-minute slots by registering on the Paris 2024 website. A QR code received after registration will serve as a "pass" to the heart of the Tuileries Gardens.
