The Montgolfier Brothers and the Hot Air Balloon

Joseph Montgolfier came up with the balloon idea while watching a fire in his fireplace.

On June 4, 1783, the Montgolfier brothers filled up a paper bag with hot air and it floated. It was called a balon (in french).

On September 19, same year, they flew a balloon with passengers. the passengers were really scared and it took a long time for them to get their courage to get into the air. They were famously known as Sheep, Duck and Rooster, because that is what they were! Reports from the time state that the sheep had an anxiety attack when the ballon went into the air and it kicked the duck and broke it's wing.


Are you wondering how long it took before they flew a balloon with people? Less than a month. I am afraid the Montgolfier borthers are classsified as cowards in our minds as they got their friends to go up first! Amazingly they were not tethered - they were in free flight!

The Montgolfier brothers thought they had actually discovered a new gas, which they named 'Montgolfier Gas'. But the gas was just air that was lighter because it had been heated.