The Isolation of Flight

Illustration of an 1884 flight by Albert and Gaston Tissandier with their dirigible design. It was the first flying machine to incorporate electric power, and it made a successful flight over Paris on 26 September 1884. Drawn by Albert Tissandier.

Have a look at the above illustration. It shows an airship high up in the clouds, isolated and alone up in the sky. This view encapsulates the idea that humans are surface-dwellers, and we’re not built for a life in the clouds. Throughout our history, humans have spent untold amounts of time and energy trying to escape the surface of the earth, but the reality of such an escape is so foreign to our needs that it creates a conflict within us.

Humans need to come together and socialize. When we’re isolated from each other, we break down and lose our sense of self. In short, isolation is inhuman. That’s what’s so fascinating about images like the one above. It fills us with a sense of freedom and a longing to be among the clouds, but it’s ethereal. For a short time, that balloon ride would be amazing. There’s always a need to return back to the surface, however.

Read more about the human need for flight here.