A Brief History of Hot Air Balloons



Hot air balloon history is both interesting and colorful. Hot air balloons were the earliest form of flight, and continue to enjoy considerable interest today.

According to hot air balloon history, brothers Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier, and the French scientist Pilatre de Rozier are jointly credited as the inventors of the hot air balloon in 1783. De Rozier launched a duck, a goat, and a chicken on the very first hot air balloon flight, in a balloon that was probably manufactured by the Montgolfier brothers, who are credited with launching the first manned flight, on which De Rozier was a passenger, about two months later. The Montgolfier brothers worked at their family-owned paper factory in Annonay, France. They are said to have been inspired while watching laundry that rose as it was drying over a fire, which gave them the idea that smoke caused things to rise in the air.

As we now know, however, it is actually hot air that is responsible for the lifting action. Although de Rozier and the Montgolfier brothers had the wrong idea about what caused the lift, they still went on to invent the first hot air balloons. After some experimentation, it was discovered that hot air is less dense than cold air, and when contained, will rise in cold air. Understanding this led to advancement of hot air balloon technology, and opened a colorful chapter in the history of flight and hot air balloons.

The first hot air balloons were made of fabric, lined with paper, and included a layer of alum for fire-proofing. Over 2,000 knots held the balloon together. The first flight covered roughly one mile, at a height of only about six feet, not unlike the Wright brothers, whose first airplane flight covered only a short distance. The important point, however, was that hot air ballooning had been born! It became a source of pleasure, and was also used extensively in warfare for the next 150 years.

Only two years later, in 1785, another French balloonist was the first to cross the English Channel in a hot air balloon, only a few months before De Rozier was killed when his hydrogen balloon exploded during a similar attempt. The first North American flight, an event attended by George Washington, took place in 1793, and was piloted by a Frenchman.

Over the next hundred years or so, ballooning was a favored pastime, but the technology advanced very little. After World War I, hot air ballooning nearly became obsolete, in part because the fuels used for balloons were too costly. In addition, professional balloonists turned to helium in their attempts to set altitude records for balloons, but several spectacular crashes led to public disfavor. In order for ballooning to to be a viable hobby, a new fuel source was needed. Eventually, propane was discovered to be the most effective and cost-efficient way to power a hot air balloon, and hot air ballooning again gained popularity in the 1960s and 70s.

Modern, propane-fueled hot air balloons are made from durable fire-resistant nylon, and generally include a wicker basket as a passenger compartment. Wicker is durable and flexible, and even helps absorb the shock at landing, keeping the passengers comfortable. There's no need to worry about safety because not only is all equipment checked and rechecked before use, there is a knowledgeable crew on the ground that tracks the balloon's every movement. Basic instruments such as altimeters, speed indicators, and GPS navigation are commonplace, adding to the sense of security for passengers.

Through the years, hot air ballooning has become increasingly safe. Pilots have learned that weather is an extremely important consideration, since rain, sudden changes in air temperature, gusty winds, and especially lightning, can spell quick disaster for a hot air balloon and its passengers. On the day of a flight, crews release small pilot balloons to check wind velocity and direction, equipment is checked and rechecked, and a well-trained ground crew assists with take-off and landing, and monitors the flight, often following in a "chase" vehicle to meet the balloon at its destination.

Hot air balloons vary greatly in size. The largest ones can, of course, hold more passengers and can reach higher altitudes. Typical sizes range from 2 or 3 person capacity on up to a passenger capacity of about 20. There are even one-person balloons known as "cloudhoppers", in which the pilot is seated in a harness rather than a basket. Your local hot air ballooning tour company can educate you regarding their balloons and every aspect of hot air balloon rides.

Hot air balloon rides are offered in nearly every state in the US. Experienced pilots are ready and willing to take you and your family or friends up and show you how much fun hot air ballooning can be! Hot air balloons are still simple in design, but use technological advances that make them safer and more efficient than ever. There is nothing quite like a hot air balloon ride. Try one today!

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