History of Hot Air Ballooning

Brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier launch the world’s first unmanned hot air balloon in Annonay, France. Made of paper and silk, it soars to 6,000 feet.

The Montgolfier's send up a sheep, a duck, and a rooster in a balloon, proving living beings can survive the flight.

The first manned flight takes place in Paris. Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes float over the city for 25 minutes—marking the birth of human flight.

Élisabeth Thible becomes the first woman to fly in a hot air balloon, taking to the skies over Lyon in a Montgolfier balloon.

French inventor Pilâtre de Rozier attempts to cross the English Channel by balloon. Sadly, his balloon catches fire, making him the first known aviation fatality.

Later that year, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries succeed in crossing the Channel in a hydrogen balloon, paving the way for long-distance ballooning

The French Army forms the world’s first airborne military unit, using balloons for reconnaissance during the Battle of Fleurus.

Balloons become tools of science and discovery, helping researchers study weather patterns, air pressure, and the upper atmosphere.

Scottish aeronaut James Tytler attempts balloon flights in Edinburgh, followed shortly after by more successful launches from Vincenzo Lunardi in London.

Henri Giffard designs the first steam-powered airship, blending the principles of ballooning with propulsion—an important step toward modern aviation.

During the Franco-Prussian War, balloons are used to carry mail and passengers out of besieged Paris, pioneering airmail

Ballooning becomes popular for both exploration and sport. Adventurers push the limits, using balloons to reach higher altitudes and longer distances. Balloons also play a role in early meteorology, helping scientists map weather systems.

Explorer Auguste Piccard ascends over 50,000 feet using a pressurized gondola beneath a giant balloon, reaching new scientific frontiers.

Explorer Albert Stevens and Captain Orvil Anderson ascend to 72,395 feet in the Explorer II balloon, setting a world altitude record.

Advances in nylon fabric and propane burners revolutionize ballooning. American Ed Yost designs the modern hot air balloon, making the sport safer and more practical than ever before.

The Bristol-based company Bristol Belle, created by the Bristol Gliding Club and Ed Yost’s design influence, becomes the UK’s first modern hot air balloon.

Balloon festivals flourish, led by the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and ballooning becomes both a popular leisure activity and a competitive sport.

Ben Abruzzo, Larry Newman, Ron Clark, and Rocky Aoki cross the Pacific Ocean in the Double Eagle V balloon, covering nearly 5,000 miles.

The very first Bristol International Balloon Fiesta takes place with just a few balloons. Today, it has grown into Europe’s largest ballooning event, attracting hundreds of balloons and huge crowds.

Richard Branson and Per Lindstrand cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon, breaking distance records and making headlines.

Branson and Lindstrand attempt the first balloon circumnavigation. Although unsuccessful, their daring effort inspires others to chase the dream.

Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones make history with the first non-stop round-the-world balloon journey, covering 28,000 miles in 20 days.

The Bristol Fiesta records one of the biggest mass ascents in Europe, with over 100 balloons taking off at once from Ashton Court.

Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov completes a solo flight around the world in just 11 days, covering 11,000 kilometres, breaking the record for fastest circumnavigation.

You can experience this incredible history for yourself. Book your hot air balloon flight and enjoy the magic of ballooning — a safe, unforgettable journey above the British countryside.