History of Hot Air Balloon
Montgolfier brothers (Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne) were paper manufacturers who got the idea of inventing a mechanism which would lift off if heated air is collected inside a lightweight paper or bag after watching the shirt he was drying over a fire slightly lift up when heat blew in his shirt pocket, made of paper and cloth. They made a few attempts without involving any living beings without any successful outcome.
A Sheep, a Duck and a Rooster
When the Montgolfier brothers demonstrated their first successful load-carrying flight technology (Aérostat Réveillon) in September 19, 1783, in front of the French king and the crowd, the King asked them to use prisoners as passengers. But instead the brothers used a sheep, duck and a rooster. The flight lasted for about 8 minutes and flew 3.2 km then landed safely on the ground.
Mechanism of Hot Air Balloon
As the warm air inside the balloon is less dense than the air around it the balloon lifts up and floats in the atmosphere. It can fly up to 22,000 ft but cannot go any further because the earth’s atmosphere gets thinner the higher we go.
1. Do You Need a License to Fly?
- A. Yes
- B. No
Hot air balloons have been useful for us in many ways from the very beginning from transportation, military use, and sporting events to recreational purposes.
Modern hot air balloons have been made in all kinds of shapes and sizes- it is the safest form of flight.
What One Should Have While Flying on a Hot Air Balloon?
- A fire extinguisher
- A handling or drop line
- A fire blanket
- Pilot restraint harness
- Flame-resistant clothing
- Ballasts
- Sunglasses
- Comfortable shoes