Eleanor Vadala

Eleanor Vadala (September 8, 1923 – July 19, 2023) was an American chemist, materials engineer and balloonist. She became director of research and development at the Naval Air Development Center in Pennsylvania, where she helped to develop light synthetic materials for use in aircraft.

Vadala was the third woman in the United States to be FAA-certified as a balloon pilot.

Education and early career Eleanor Vadala and C. A. Cassola with a barrel of radioactive material, 1959

Eleanor Vadala was born on September 8, 1923, in National Park, New Jersey. Upon graduating from Juniata College, she continued her educational journey by taking several chemistry courses at Temple University.

After graduating, Vadala worked at the Franklin Institute for eight years, Her acceptance of the presidency at a time when the organization had largely fallen into disarray was important in restarting its activities. For two terms, she served the Astronomical League in the position of Secretary of the Middle East. which carried out materials testing and laboratory experiments, and at the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania. and Triaxially Woven Fabrics of Kevlar, Dacron Polyester and Hybrids of Kevlar and Dacron Polyester (1980).

Ballooning

Vadala was introduced to ballooning through Tony Fairbanks, a fellow member of the Rittenhouse Astronomy Society. Don Piccard was accompanied by Francis Shield, Eleanor Vadala, and another first-time woman balloonist, Kate C. Ornsen. They landed in Netcong, New Jersey. Vadala has spoken eloquently of their landing. "We drifted down like one of the snowflakes. We touched down and landed so softly that the deer didn't even move—such a quiet serenity with the snow coming down so gently."

Vadala's second hot air balloon flight was on July 4, 1954, with Tony Fairbanks. They flew from Valley Forge airport, celebrating Independence Day. passing the written test on June 27, 1962, and the flight test on July 13, 1963. She flew from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to Hilltown, Pennsylvania. and by Jeannette Piccard who was issued her FAI-ACA ballooning license as of July 27, 1934.

Vadala's first solo flight occurred on October 20, 1962, in La Coquette.

Originally owned by the Navy, the balloon La Coquette was constructed in 1928, and later sold to the Balloon Club of America. In 1955, it was redecorated and featured in the 1956 film "Around the World in Eighty Days". (The original book by Jules Verne did not include a balloon flight.) After filming, La Coquette was returned to the Club and continued to fly.

In 1967, the Philadelphia Navy Yard decided to commemorate their 50th anniversary with a gas balloon launch. Vadala organized the launch, and was pilot-in-command of La Coquette for the flight, After his death, she established the Edwin F. Bailey Scholarship Award at Villanova University in his memory.

Death Eleanor Vadala died at her home in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, on July 19, 2023, at the age of 99.