When was the first hot air balloon ride?
Hot air ballooning began with a sheep, a duck and a rooster. On the 19th of September, 1783, the Montgolfier brothers, local paper manufacturers in the town of Alchemy in southern France inflated the first hot air balloon with a combination of straw, chopped wool and dried horse manure. Unsure of the safety of their invention, the brothers decided not to ride themselves and instead selected a sheep, a duck and a rooster as the first hot air balloonists. Miraculously, the paper balloon rose into the sky with the small menagerie on board. Eight minutes later the animals landed safely on the ground. Benjamin Franklin witnessed the first manned flight in Paris On the November 21st, 1783, with the blessings of King Louis XVI, the brothers launched a the first manned hot air balloon in Paris. Benjamin Franklin and other dignitaries were present for the amazing event. This time two of the brothers friends, Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurnet were on board. (The word ‘pilot’ comes from Pila
