Bing image: Of balloons and lost pantaloons - Bing Wallpaper Gallery

Of balloons and lost pantaloons Jan 7, 2021

Of balloons and lost pantaloons

We all fly by the seat of our pants now and then, but how about flying with no pants at all? That was the plight of Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries, who on January 7, 1785, made history over these chalk cliffs with the first aerial crossing of the English Channel. When their hydrogen-filled balloon dropped altitude due to overloading, the two tossed all the cargo they could into the drink below, britches included. Reaching France in their underpants, the undoubtedly chilly pilots still received a warm welcome.

© LisaValder/Getty Images

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 25, 2021Struck by Southwestern beauty
Apr 28, 2018National Park Week: Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Aug 1, 2020Where fire meets water
May 22, 2019The artists come to Venice
Jun 24, 2019A summertime light show
Jun 19, 2021Surf s up—Down Under
May 11, 2020A tree amid the Tetons
Sep 4, 2021Humming along
Jun 11, 2020A midsummer twilight s dream
Aug 26, 2021What are these creatures?
Jan 10, 2018Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
May 15, 2018Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
Feb 28, 2020Looking down on the Otter
Jan 11, 2019Life in a North African town
Jun 21, 2020Grab onto the handlebars, kid
Feb 25, 2019High above the reef
May 28, 2019Why’s it called a spelling ‘bee,’ anyhow?
Mar 21, 2020It s World Poetry Day
Nov 10, 2021Cumberland Island National Seashore
May 18, 2021International Museum Day