THE FIRST Englishman ever to fly a hot air balloon will be honoured with a plaque being installed at Oxford Town Hall tomorrow night.

James Sadler took off from Merton Field in Oxford on October 4, 1784, to the disbelief of watching crowds.

He rose to an estimated 3,600ft before landing six miles away in Woodeaton.

Sadler became a minor English hero, making further flights in Birmingham, Cheltenham and Bristol and was known as the King of Balloons, but today he is largely forgotten.

Tonight, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAS) hope to revive his celebrity by unveiling the honorary plaque in the foyer at Oxford Town Hall.

Lord Mayor of Oxford Mohammed Altaf-Khan, James Sadler’s descendent Roy Sadler, and Sadler biographer Mark Davies will also attend.

Members of the aerospace community are hoping to use the event to shine a spotlight on current aerospace industries and developments in Oxfordshire.

Among the representatives will be RAF Benson station commander Simon Paterson, Chris Daniels of Hybrid Air Vehicles and Colin James of Airbus Helicopters.

Oxford City Council officer Fernanda Costa said: “James Sadler’s story provides a great window to highlight how deep Oxfordshire’s aerospace and technology heritage runs.”