Mary Myers

Balloonist Her first flight, in front of 15,00 people, took place in July, 1880, in Little Falls, New York.

She and her husband performed often at fairs or other gatherings and were known for their showmanship. During her performances, Myers would sometimes parachute out of the balloon although she was reluctant to do so. She had several balloons she used regularly such as the Carlotta, the Aerial, the Zephyr, and the Flying Cloud.

Myer's husband published her book, Aerial Adventures of Carlotta; or, Sky-Larking in Cloudland in 1883. Myers worked there as a test aeronaut, trying different designs. In 1891, she retired from public life to work exclusively on the farm. On May 26, 1885, she and Carl were granted their patent for a "Guiding Apparatus For Balloons" which consisted of a rudder and a sail attached to the side of the balloon's basket. Myers lived in Atlanta until her death in 1932.

Legacy

Myers was one of the first American women to fly solo in a balloon,

In 1886, the couple tested a balloon which, instead of being filled with hydrogen, was filled with natural gas. Myers took off from Franklin, Pennsylvania, but she reported that the gas valve had become stuck, preventing her from controlling the balloon's ascent. While in flight, her barometer recorded an altitude of 21,000 feet, which would have been a record height for a natural gas balloon to reach.

She was noted for her ability to control an untethered balloon,

Publications Myers, Mary (1883). Aerial Adventures of Carlotta; or, Sky-Larking in Cloudland. Mohawk, New York: C. E. Myers.