June 5th, 1783 - First Successful Test Flight (no passengers)
The Montgolfier brothers launch the worlds first Hot Air Balloon. The Balloon itself was constructed out of paper and linen. The opening was held over a smoky fire, filling the balloon with hot, Smokey air that eventually caused the balloon to lift and ascend. While many thought it was the smoke that made the balloon rise, the theory in fact (even at the time) was that hot air was lighter than cold air and that was what made the balloon rise.
Sometime between June and November 1783 - First BRAVE Passengers
After several more tests, the Modtgolfier brothers built a basket in which to carry passengers. Here's a picture of each of the passengers...
November 1783 - Actual People Lift Off
The first people to lift off in a balloon included physicist Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and an army major Marquis Francois d'Arlandes. They lifted off in a Montgolfier balloon to the delight of nearly all of Paris, including King Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette! The spectacle lasted almost 30 minutes and they landed safely outside Paris with much celebration. Man could fly!
December 1783 - Hydrogen is used instead of Hot Air
Jacques Alexandre Charles decides to use Hydrogen instead of Hot Air, understanding that hydrogen, being lighter (less dense) than air would have the same buoyant affect as hot air. He was not mistaken. Charles ascended safely from the Tuileries Gardens with the Duke of Chartres. The journey lasted two hours, after which Charles dropped his passenger off and re-ascended to 9,000 feet! This feat raised speculation regarding which method was the most favorable - the Montgolfier's or Charles'?
1784 - The rise of the passenger balloon (no pun intended)
Joseph Montgolfier developed and launched a giant balloon called "La Flesselles" from Lyons. The basket was 22 foot wide and carried 7 passengers to over 3,000 feet.
June of 1784 - The Balloon Reaches the United States
Balloon mania spread quickly from Paris throughout Europe and then to the United States in June of 1784. The first flight launched from Baltimore. The passenger was a 13 year old boy.
Late 1784 - The challenges begin
As balloon spread across Europe, people began to test and challenge the distances that could be flown. Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr. Jeffries. On January 7th, 1785 crossed the English Channel. The team traveled from Dover to Calais in a Charliere Balloon (hydrogen).
1785 - Experiments in Technology - First Tragedy
Pilatre de Rozier decided he should combine the two existing technologies into a single balloon. Using a combination of open flame - Hot Air and Hydrogen, Pilatre de Rozier created the "Roziere Balloon". Pilatre hoped to cross the English Channel from the opposite direction. In June 15th 1785 the deadly combination of hydrogen and fire exploded, killing both de Rozier and his passenger. This was to be the first balloon related death. That was not the death of this technology however. The first balloon to fly non-stop around the globe was in fact a Roziere Balloon.
1984 - Bob meets Bruce in Canada - History of Ballooning now begins.....