Hot Air Balloons

Touted as the oldest successful human flight technology, hot air balloons were built in France by brothers Josef and Etienne Montgolfier. The two brothers were part of a paper manufacturing plant. One day, they noticed the way that ash rose within a fire. Thinking that the smoke was the lifting agent, the brothers began to experiment and eventually created the first hot air balloon that could carry a human being into flight. In 1783, the balloon was tested by two scientists and deemed a successful invention.

In the beginning, hot air balloons were essentially a paper bag, a grill, and a smoky fire. Nowadays, hot air balloons are made of nylon and are powered by propane, rather than open fire, making them much safer and less likey to burst into flame. Regardless of the materials used, hot air balloons are based upon a basic scientific concept: cool air causes hot air to rise.

This concept is how pilots steer hot air balloons. It works much like a gas stove. For example, to go higher the pilot opens the propane valve further, increasing the flow of gas. To lower the balloon, the pilot closes the valve. The vertical motion of the balloon is all that the pilot has control of. The balloon's direction and speed is completely dependent upon the wind.

Since their invention, balloons have been used for a variety of purposes, including travel, communication, and warfare. Today, most of the hot air balloons in existence are reserved for recreational purposes. Anyone interested in flying or riding in a hot air balloon must remember that balloons are an undependable mode of travel. They are difficult to steer and they will never move faster than the wind blows. At the same time, the instability of balloon rides can provide the adventure of a lifetime.