Hot Air Balloon

Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier

1782

These two brothers put hot air into a silk bag because it is less dense than the outside air to create the first hot air balloon

First Successful Flight

Sep 19, 1783

The first successful flight had a rooster, a duck, and a sheep in the basket. The balloon was in the air for 10-15 minutes before crashing to the ground. This occurred in Annonay, Ardeche, France.

First Untethered Hot Air Balloon Flight

Nov 21, 1783

The first untethered hot air balloon flight with people in the basket was performed. The balloon was in the air for 20 minutes before they landed it. They lifted off in Chateau de la Muette, Paris

Ballooning over English Channel

Jan 7, 1785

At the beginning of the ballooning period, a French balloonist, Jean Pierre Blanchard, and co-pilot, John Jefferiesa, ballooned over the English Channel. They lifted off in Dover England and landed in Calais, France.

English Channel Disaster

Jan 8, 1785

While on their next flight, the fight balloon flier and his co-pilot, were killed while trying to cross the English Channel using their experimental design. Their design consisted of a hydrogen and a hot air balloon tied together. They set two records: the first ballooners and the first to die ballooning.

Flight over North America

Jan 9, 1793

Jean Pierre Blanchard was the first to fly across North American. George Washington was in Washington Prison Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to witness the balloon launch. The balloon Landed in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

First to Reach Stratosphere

1932

Over 100 years later Swiss scientist was the first to reach the stratosphere at a height of 52,498 feet in the air. Every couple of months the records were broke and set in an effort to see who could make it the highest.

Humans can Survive at High Altitudes

Sep 11, 1935

A new altitude record was set at 72,395 feet (13.7 miles) high. This important date proved that humans could be in a pressurized chamber at extremely high altitudes and survive. This paved the way for future space travel. This balloon lifted off in Stratobowl in Rapid City, South Dakota

A New Balloon Record

Aug 16, 1960

Captain Joe Kittinger set a new record by parachute jumping from a balloon at 102,000 feet.The balloon broke the height record and Joe Kittinger had the highest altitude jump record. He feel for a total of 4 minutes and 36 seconds and still holds the record to this day. At his height he only had 5 millimeters of air pressure on his body. Here on earth we have 780 millimeters of air pressure on us, so as far as he was concerned, he was in space even though space has 0 millimeters of air pressure.

Double Eagle II

1978

Double Eagle II was the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean carrying three passengers. The passengers were Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman. This voyage took 137 hours. They took off in Presque Isle, Maine.

First Around the World Trip

Period: Mar 1, 1999 to Mar 20, 1999

the first around the world trip in a hot air balloon was completed by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones. They flew for 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes. They Lifted off in Switzerland and landed in Africa.