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- Crowd Gathered to Watch a Balloon Launch, circa 1900 - Leon Bollee, an automobile manufacturer based in Le Mans, France, also had a deep interest in aviation. He was a sport balloonist and served as president of the Aero-Club de la Sarthe -- a regional aviation organization. Bollee formed an important friendship with Wilbur Wright when Wright staged his successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908.

- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Crowd Gathered to Watch a Balloon Launch, circa 1900
Leon Bollee, an automobile manufacturer based in Le Mans, France, also had a deep interest in aviation. He was a sport balloonist and served as president of the Aero-Club de la Sarthe -- a regional aviation organization. Bollee formed an important friendship with Wilbur Wright when Wright staged his successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908.
- Ford V-8 Truck Hauling Balloon Gondola for the Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Ascension, June 6, 1933 - The Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Balloon launched in August 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, piloted by Lt. Commander "Tex" Settle. The magnesium gondola and hydrogen balloon quickly crashed soon after launch due to an open valve. It is shown here in June, hauled by a Ford V-8 truck. Jean and Jeannette Piccard successfully relaunched it in October 1934 from Ford Airport.

- June 30, 1933
- Collections - Artifact
Ford V-8 Truck Hauling Balloon Gondola for the Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Ascension, June 6, 1933
The Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Balloon launched in August 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, piloted by Lt. Commander "Tex" Settle. The magnesium gondola and hydrogen balloon quickly crashed soon after launch due to an open valve. It is shown here in June, hauled by a Ford V-8 truck. Jean and Jeannette Piccard successfully relaunched it in October 1934 from Ford Airport.
- Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.

- September 17, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.

- September 20, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- Man Opening Door of Equipment Building, 1915-1930 -

- Collections - Artifact
Man Opening Door of Equipment Building, 1915-1930
- After the Stratosphere Balloon Flight by Auguste Piccard and Max Cosyns, "A Great Adventure," August 18, 1932 - In the 1930s, scientists began conducting experiments from new heights in balloons. Researchers Auguste Piccard and Max Cosyns set an altitude record in 1932 with a flight launched from Dubendorf, Switzerland. They ascended more than 10 miles in a pressurized gondola to gather atmospheric data and measure cosmic rays.

- August 18, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
After the Stratosphere Balloon Flight by Auguste Piccard and Max Cosyns, "A Great Adventure," August 18, 1932
In the 1930s, scientists began conducting experiments from new heights in balloons. Researchers Auguste Piccard and Max Cosyns set an altitude record in 1932 with a flight launched from Dubendorf, Switzerland. They ascended more than 10 miles in a pressurized gondola to gather atmospheric data and measure cosmic rays.
- View of Balloon from Gondola during Piccard Stratosphere Flight, Altitude 57,579 Feet, October 23, 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. Jeannette was the first American woman licensed as a balloonist, and first to reach the stratosphere. While Jeannette piloted, Jean gathered scientific data. Balloon is fully inflated here, at 57,579 feet.

- October 23, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
View of Balloon from Gondola during Piccard Stratosphere Flight, Altitude 57,579 Feet, October 23, 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. Jeannette was the first American woman licensed as a balloonist, and first to reach the stratosphere. While Jeannette piloted, Jean gathered scientific data. Balloon is fully inflated here, at 57,579 feet.
- Observation Tower, 1915-1930 -

- Collections - Artifact
Observation Tower, 1915-1930
- Letter of Thanks from Jean Piccard to Henry Ford regarding the Recent Stratosphere Balloon Flight, November 20, 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed Ford Airport field October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. Jeannette was the first American woman licensed as a balloonist, and first to reach the stratosphere. The Piccards were guests of Henry Ford at the Dearborn Inn while Jeannette trained for flight.

- November 20, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Letter of Thanks from Jean Piccard to Henry Ford regarding the Recent Stratosphere Balloon Flight, November 20, 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed Ford Airport field October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. Jeannette was the first American woman licensed as a balloonist, and first to reach the stratosphere. The Piccards were guests of Henry Ford at the Dearborn Inn while Jeannette trained for flight.
- Ford V-8 Truck Hauling Balloon Gondola for the Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Ascension, June 6, 1933 - The Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Balloon launched in August 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, piloted by Lt. Commander "Tex" Settle. The magnesium gondola and hydrogen balloon quickly crashed soon after launch due to an open valve. It is shown here in June, hauled by a Ford V-8 truck. Jean and Jeannette Piccard successfully relaunched it in October 1934 from Ford Airport.

- June 30, 1933
- Collections - Artifact
Ford V-8 Truck Hauling Balloon Gondola for the Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Ascension, June 6, 1933
The Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Balloon launched in August 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, piloted by Lt. Commander "Tex" Settle. The magnesium gondola and hydrogen balloon quickly crashed soon after launch due to an open valve. It is shown here in June, hauled by a Ford V-8 truck. Jean and Jeannette Piccard successfully relaunched it in October 1934 from Ford Airport.