Wandering Winds Hot Air Balloon Rides

Hot air balloons were first discovered in France when Joseph Michel Montgolfier and his brother Jacques Montgolfier realized that a fabric bag filled with hot air would rise.

In 1782 Joseph filled a silk bag with hot air which lifted the bag to the ceiling of his house. On 25th April 1783, Joseph and his brother built a larger, spherical bag, filled it with hot air from a fire and sent several farm animals aloft in a basket hung underneath it, animals such as ducks, roosters and even sheep! This was a great success, so from there they created an even bigger one. On 21st November 1783 in Paris the brothers launched a 70-foot (21 meters) high balloon carrying two brave men. It traveled over Paris for five and a half miles. It managed to stay up in the air for roughly 24 minutes!

This was the first attempt made by man to fly, and it worked as well as they expected, which is why they are still used to this day.