Dufton
Note: This map only gives the position of Dufton village within the UK.
DUFTON: Balloon landing site
Location: Dagla Wood, Dufton near Appleby.
(Now known as Appleby-in-Westmorland on the A.66)
NOTES: I have very good and obvious reasons not to try and include balloon landing sites in this Guide, there are thousands. And for that matter off-airfield glider landing sites and most other sites where forced landings by powered aircraft have occurred. Let let alone hang-gliders landing sites etc, etc, etc.
But this site must surely be a worthy exception to the rule. On the 22nd of April, 1867 Mr J Hodsman ascended from the Dublin Great Exhibition Grounds at 4.40pm in the balloon ‘Raven’ intending to land at Clontarf about an hour later. However, high winds made this impracticable, so he continued on.
The full account is given by Peter Connon in his book ‘In The Shadow Of The Eagle’s Wing’ which I would highly recommend, and not just for this remarkable story. Very remarkable this story is too, and just how Mr Hodsman managed to survive the adventure seems a miracle by any standards - hence it’s inclusion here
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