History of aviation – August 23, 1909. The dirigible balloon known as “Bayard-Clément” will, on this Monday, August 23, 1909, make an ascent. It will be the last before it goes to Russia, the country having acquired it. Unfortunately, this final test flight will end in an unfortunate accident…
And yet, during this exit in the sky, the device showed great abilities, indeed, at its controls, the pilot Mr. Cappazza will set the new height record, the aeronaut having at his side the mechanic Dilasser, as well as the Russian Colonel Nath. He will thus succeed in raising the balloon to no less than 1,500 meters in altitude. A great performance, before the accident happened…
The “Bayard-Clément” dirigible will have its envelope ripped open, the fault of the weather conditions and more precisely the wind which will precipitate it on a willow tree and the balloon will finally complete its flight in the Seine, while it was on its way to join its shed, the latter being located in Montesson!
