In 1777, Joseph Montgolfier observed that smoke from a fire caused his laundry, particularly a shirt, to float. Curious about this phenomenon, he experimented by throwing small pieces of paper into the fire. He concluded that smoke could lift objects into the air. Driven by his passion for science and invention, he aimed to create a device that could harness smoke and heat to lift people.
Together with his brother Jacques, they conducted further experiments, ultimately developing the first hot-air balloon. Initially, they tested the balloon by sending a sheep, duck, and chicken on a two-mile flight, which ended successfully. A large crowd, including members of the French Royal Family, watched in amazement.
Later, they sought the king’s permission to send humans aloft. On November 21, 1783, they achieved their goal with the first manned flight in Paris, reaching an altitude of 150 meters. The Montgolfier brothers realized that it was the hot air, not smoke, that enabled lift. Their experiments laid the foundation for ballooning.