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History of Hot Air Balloons

By sopsmith

  • Experimenting

    A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. A gondola or wicker basket is suspended beneath, which carries passengers and a source of heat, in most cases an open flame cause by burning liquid propane. French brothers Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier begin to experiment with lighter-than-air flight using a piece of fabric made of paper and silk.

  • First hot air balloon flown

    First hot air balloon flown
    French scientist Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier famously launched the first hot air balloon carrying a duck, a sheep, and a rooster. The flight lasted for 15 minutes.

  • First balloon flown in the US

    Jean-Pierre Blanchard completes the first balloon flight in North America, flying from Philadelphia to New Jersey.

  • First long-distance flight

    First long-distance flight
    The Great Balloon of Nassau is flown by UK balloon enthusiast Charles Green from London to Germany in 18 hours.

  • Balloons first used in war

    Balloons first used in war
    Hot air balloons are used for military observation and as a way to escape in the Franco-Prussian War.
  • Period: to

    Balloons used in war

    Both sides use balloons for military observation during World War 1.

  • First modern hot air balloon

    First modern hot air balloon
    Edward Yost invents a propane burner, changing balloons from gas to hot air. The first one was successfully flown in Nebraska, USA.
  • Period: to

    Development of balloons

    In the 1970s and 80s, we see the development of new synthetic materials and lighter burners, marking another new age in the history of hot air balloons.

  • First transatlantic balloon flight

    First transatlantic balloon flight
    Sir Richard Branson and Per Linstrand successfully fly the Virgin Atlantic Flyer across the Atlantic. This balloon is the largest balloon ever at 2.3 million cubic feet.

  • First round the world balloon flight

    Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones fly a helium/hot air balloon around the globe setting the longest ever flight covering 29,055 miles in 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes.

  • Fastest round the world balloon flight

    Fedor Konyukhov broke the record by completing his 33,000 km journey in just under 11 days.