A Sheep, a Duck, and a Rooster on Board

Hot air balloons were invented in France in 1783 by brothers Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier. The brothers held a demonstration before King Louis XVI and the royal family in the courtyard of their palace. The passengers on the first test flight were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster.

The balloon ascended to about 600 meters, but the flight didn’t last long. Due to a tear in the envelope, the balloon landed shortly after in the Forest of Vaucresson. It turned out that the animals landed safe and sound — they were hailed as heroes and welcomed at the royal court.

2. Military Balloons

Hot air balloons were once used for military purposes such as reconnaissance and observation.

There are many examples of hot air balloons being used in warfare, especially during World War I, when both sides employed observation balloons. They were used to monitor enemy movements while remaining out of range of ground fire.

In the photo: an American major in the basket of an observation balloon flying over territory near the front lines in France.

Many might wonder whether it was safe for the pilots, given that balloons and their fabric envelopes were far less durable than traditional military aircraft. That’s a very good question.

Balloons were indeed attacked and often set on fire, which is why, when under threat or unable to continue their mission, pilots would evacuate using parachutes.

Evacuation from an observation balloon using a parachute

3. Polish Balloon Forces

Yes, we did have them! The Balloon Forces were part of the Polish Air Force during the Second Polish Republic.

In the autumn of 1917, the First Polish Balloon Unit was established! However, due to a lack of proper equipment and resources, the unit was initially unable to perform its intended function. It wasn’t until the liberation of Greater Poland that two balloon envelopes and several hundred hydrogen cylinders were found in the airship hangar in Poznań.

The first observation balloon flight took place on July 23, 1919. The Polish military purchased more balloon equipment from France, where military balloons were already widely used, which led to the development of Poland’s aeronautical forces.

In addition to their use during the interwar period, balloons were also employed during World War II. By September 1, 1939, the Polish Army had mobilized 12 balloon companies.

The airship “Lech” over Warsaw

4. The Largest Balloon Festival in the World

The world’s largest balloon festival: The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The largest and oldest hot air balloon festival in the world has been held annually since 1972 in Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA).

When it began in 1972, only 13 balloons took part. Today, more than 500 balloons participate each year!

The Albuquerque Festival

Just to emphasize — 500 balloons!

5. The DIY Balloon Chair

In 2010, two American adventurers and friends — Kent Couch and John Freis — organized a unique type of race to see who could travel the farthest. What made this flight special was that they didn’t fly in traditional balloons, but in lawn chairs attached to dozens of small helium-filled balloons.

During their experimental flights, both men ascended to over 17,000 feet (more than 5 km!) and used oxygen masks. The “race” was won by John, who landed after 73 miles (almost 116 km), while Kent touched down three miles earlier.

But that’s not all! More fascinating stories — about bus-sized balloons and even ones that fly upside down — coming soon in the next post 😊

Sources for the curious: