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The First Hot Air Balloon
The first hot air balloon was created by Joseph Michel and Jaques Etienne Montgolfier. They discovered what isolated hydrogen is and it can lift items up off the ground. After figuring this out they wanted to use this knowledge to make an Aerostat (Hot Air Balloon). -
The First Animal Flight
The scientist Pilatre De Rozier launched the first hot air balloon with the passengers of sheep, duck, and a rooster. This ride lasted 15 minutes before hitting the ground again. The balloon did not harm the animals on board and they landed safely. -
The First Human Flight
The first human flight happened successfully by Pilatre De Rozier. He safely flew in the sky for around 20 minutes, making him the first person to ride a hot air balloon. Unfortunately, just two years later he tried to take a bigger trip but only 30 minutes after takeoff the balloon exploded killing him. (03/30/1754- 06/15/1785) -
The First Gas Flight
The first gas flight happened in Paris, France. The first gas flight was launched by Jacques Alexander Charles and Nicholas Louis Robert. This flight took 2 hours and 5 minutes and went 36km. Any Balloons using hydrogen for their lift came to be called a Charliere in his honor. -
The First Hot Air Balloon Flown in North America
Jean-Pierre Blanchard finishes the hot air balloon ride going from Philadelphia to New Jersey. This was watched by people everywhere including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. To avoid paying French aeronaut Jean-Pierre Blanchard’s admission fee of $5 ( $115 today), 40,000 seekers watched from outside the prison walls. -
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Hot Air balloons Used For War
Hot air balloons used during the American Civil War were used on the Eastern Theater, especially during the Peninsula Campaign and Seven Days battles. -
Modern Hot Air Balloon System
The first modern hot air balloon was created using a propane burner system. This flight lasted 25 minutes going 3 miles. This made sport ballooning possible. Sport ballooning didn’t become popular at first but just three years later it did and the first ever championship was held in Kalamazoo, Michigan. -
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Max Amount of People
An advancement was made to the hot air balloons allowing them to hold more than 30 people. Usually Hot Air Balloons will not hold this many people that is because 30+ people is for parties only. Hot Air Balloons have been made to bigger but just for scientific purposes and safety reasons. They can also fly up to 3000 feet, but usually rides won’t go that high for legal reasons.
