Balloon

Development of Hot Air Balloon

By Dania Waldner
  • First Manned Flight

    First Manned Flight

    Fliers from France using wool and straw for heat were the first people to fly a hot air balloon.
  • Pioneering options for longer flights

    Pioneering options for longer flights

    Jacques Charles and Nicolas Robert pioneered hydrogen-filled balloons offering longer flights than hot air.
  • First Public Demonstration

    First Public Demonstration

    A hot air balloon build by the Montgolfier brothers in France. The brothers burnt straw as the heat source to fly.
  • First Animal Flight

    First Animal Flight

    The Montgolfier brothers launched a hot air balloon carrying a sheep, duck, and a rooster in Versailles, France. Lasted about eight minutes.
  • Period: to

    Hot air balloons were used for observation

    Hot air balloons were used for observations on the Civil War
  • First modern air balloon

    First modern air balloon

    Ed Yost and Jim Winker developed the first modern hot air balloon with an onboard hear source.
  • First Flight

    First Flight

    The first flight like modern hot air balloons flown by Ed Yost.
  • First Modern UK Balloon

    First Modern UK Balloon

    The first modern UK balloon build by Bristol Belle in the UK.

  • Longest and Fastest Flight

    Flew from Japan to Canada by Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson.

  • Highest Altitude

    The highest altitude ever reached was 21,027m (68,986 ft). This hot air balloon was flown by Singhania.