On November 21, 1783, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlincourt became the first humans to fly in a hot air balloon. Their flight launched from the center of Paris, marking a significant milestone in aviation history.

The balloon, created by the Montgolfier brothers, was made of linen and paper, and it was filled with hot air to achieve lift. The flight lasted about 5 minutes and reached an altitude of about 3,000 feet.

The public witnessed this historic event with a mixture of awe and skepticism, sparking widespread fascination with flight and experimentation with ballooning techniques thereafter. The flight laid the groundwork for future developments in aviation technology.

After the flight, the popularity of ballooning soared, and public demonstrations attracted large crowds. This whimsical new form of exploration captured the imagination of both scientists and the general public alike.

Interestingly, the balloon landed in a field, and the two adventurers escaped unscathed, which encouraged subsequent flights and experiments. Hot air ballooning became a popular pastime among the aristocracy in France.

Notably, this landmark event is often referred to as the dawn of modern aviation, which eventually led to the development of aircraft and space travel. The fascination with flight has continued to inspire advancements in aeronautics.

The Montgolfier brothers, who invented the hot air balloon, were inspired by the properties of hot air and smoke from their father's paper factory. Their initial experiments involved animals before humans took to the skies.

The first passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster, which were sent up before humans to test the effects of flight. This humorous note in history shows the lighthearted approach to such a groundbreaking moment.

What do you think it was like for the first people to fly in a hot air balloon?