Charles Green (balloonist)

Portrait of Charles Green by Hilaire Ledru, 1835

Charles Green (31 January 1785 – 26 March 1870) was the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century.[1] He experimented with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power. His first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821. He became a professional balloonist and had made 200 ascents by 1835. In 1836, he set a major long distance record in the balloon Royal Vauxhall, flying overnight from Vauxhall Gardens in London to Weilburg, Duchy of Nassau (Germany)[1] a distance of 480 miles (770 km). By the time he retired in 1852, he had flown in a balloon more than 500 times.[2]

Green is credited with the invention of the trail rope as an aid to steering and landing a balloon.[1]

A trophy named after him, the "Charles Green Salver", is awarded by the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC) for exceptional flying achievements or contributions in ballooning.[2] The trophy was originally given to Green by Richard Crawshay after a balloon trip in Norfolk. Recipients have included Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard for the first round-the-world balloon flight. Green was included in the ballooning hall of fame[clarification needed] in 1999.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Balloon records, accessed May 2009
  2. ^ a b Charles Green Salver Archived 4 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, BBAC, accessed May 2009
  3. ^ Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), Ballooning Commission Hall of Fame Archived 18 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 2009