Sick History of Hot Air Balloons
Wassup little bros and broettes! It’s ya boy coming at you from science class where we literally just learned about these super dope flying things called hot air balloons, and I’m like, mind blown! So I thought I’d share this sick knowledge with you kids cause this stuff is actually pretty fire!
OG Balloon Squad - How It All Started
Okay so check it, way back in the 1700s (like ancient history, no cap), these two French bros named Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier were just chilling and were like “Yo, what if we could fly through the air like birds?” Literally genius!
They made this big bag out of cotton and paper and filled it with hot air from burning wool and straw (lowkey sounds like my gym clothes after practice, lol). On September 19, 1783, they did this insane demonstration in front of the actual king of France! Like, imagine doing your science fair project for the president! That’s major clout!
But here’s the crazy part - they didn’t even ride in it themselves the first time! They put a sheep, a duck, and a rooster in a little basket (weird flex but ok) and sent them up! The animals flew like 600 meters high (that’s like… a lot of football fields stacked up) and traveled 3.5 km before landing. And the animals survived! The king was so impressed he gave these animals VIP treatment in his royal zoo. Those animals were basically the first astronauts, no cap!
First Human Yeet Into The Sky
So this doctor dude named Pilâtre de Rozier saw those animals living their best life after flying and was like “That looks lit, I wanna try!” On November 21, 1783, he and his homie François Laurent became the first humans to go up in a free flight hot air balloon. Imagine being the first humans ever to fly! That’s like getting a million likes on TikTok but way cooler.
How These Bad Boys Actually Work
Aight, so the science is actually pretty basic but super dope. It’s all about this thing called “buoyancy” which is just a fancy way of saying “stuff that’s lighter goes up.”
Here’s how it works:
You got this big bag called an “envelope” (not like the ones for birthday money, way bigger)
Under it is a basket called a “gondola” where you stand
You got these massive burners that shoot actual fire into the balloon
When you heat up the air inside the balloon, it gets less dense than the cold air outside. Basically, hot air is lighter than cold air, so it rises and takes the whole balloon up with it! It’s like when you open a bag of chips on an airplane and it gets all puffy!
If you wanna go higher, you blast more heat into the balloon. Wanna come down? You let some of that hot air escape through a vent at the top. It’s like the volume control on your AirPods, but for flying!
Why Balloons Are Still Totally Fire Today
So you might be thinking, “Bro, we have planes and helicopters now, why would anyone still use hot air balloons?” And I’d be like, “Dude, have you seen how aesthetic they look on Instagram?!”
But for real, people still fly them because:
They’re mad peaceful (no engine noise, just the occasional whoosh of the burner)
The views are insane (no windows like in planes, just open air vibes)
It’s a total vibe for dates and special occasions
You can do these sick competitions where you try to drop markers on targets
How to Balloon Like a Pro
If you ever get a chance to ride in one (and you totally should, little dudes), here’s what to expect:
You gotta wake up mad early, like before-school-early, because balloons usually fly at sunrise when the air is chill and stable. The crew inflates this massive balloon by blasting these propane burners that are literally shooting flames taller than your dad.
Once you’re up in the air, it’s so quiet you can hear people talking on the ground. It’s like you’re floating in a dream, except it’s real life. The pilot can make the balloon go up and down, but you can’t really steer it like a car - you go wherever the wind takes you! That’s deep, right?
Landing can get a little sketch - sometimes the basket might tip over and drag a bit, but that’s part of the adventure! Afterward, there’s usually a traditional champagne toast (sparkling apple juice for you little dudes) because that’s what those OG French balloonists did to stop farmers from freaking out when random flying objects landed in their fields.
Balloon Facts That’ll Blow Your Mind
The biggest hot air balloon ever was taller than the Statue of Liberty! No cap!
Some balloons have gone around the entire world! This dude Steve Fossett did it solo in 2002 in a hybrid balloon that used both hot air and helium.
Modern sport ballooning started in the 1960s when this guy Ed Yost figured out how to use propane burners to keep balloons up longer.
The first National Hot Air Balloon Championship in America was held in 1963 in Kalamazoo (funny name, right?)
Some balloons are shaped like cartoon characters, soda bottles, or even your favorite video game characters!
So there you have it, little dudes! Hot air balloons are basically these ancient but still totally lit flying machines that prove sometimes the simplest ideas are the dopest. Next time you see one floating in the sky, you can flex on your friends with all this knowledge!
Stay fly, little homies!
Super Sick Hot Air Balloon Quiz
Test your balloon knowledge, dudes!
What two French brothers invented the hot air balloon?
a) Wright brothers
b) Montgolfier brothers
c) Mario brothers
d) Jonas brothersWhat animals were the first hot air balloon passengers?
a) A dog, a cat, and a mouse
b) A sheep, a duck, and a rooster
c) A monkey, a rabbit, and a bird
d) Three humans in animal costumesWhat makes a hot air balloon rise?
a) Magic
b) Hot air is lighter than cold air
c) The pilot jumps up and down
d) Helium gasWhat is the balloon’s envelope?
a) The invitation to go ballooning
b) The basket you stand in
c) The giant fabric bag that holds the hot air
d) The receipt for your balloon rideWhen is the best time of day to go on a balloon ride?
a) Midnight
b) Lunchtime
c) Early morning or late afternoon
d) During a thunderstormWhat is the basket under a hot air balloon called?
a) Gondola
b) Bro-mobile
c) Air-box
d) Sky-bucketHow do pilots steer hot air balloons?
a) With a steering wheel, duh!
b) They don’t - they use different wind directions at different altitudes
c) By leaning to one side
d) With a remote controlWhat’s the traditional celebration after a balloon landing?
a) High fives all around
b) A champagne toast
c) Doing the floss dance
d) Signing autographs for fansWhy did early balloonists carry champagne?
a) Because balloon rides make you thirsty
b) To impress their dates
c) To appease farmers when landing in their fields
d) To make the balloon lighterWhat’s the modern fuel used for hot air balloon burners?
a) Coal
b) Gasoline
c) Propane
d) Wood
Answers: 1-b, 2-b, 3-b, 4-c, 5-c, 6-a, 7-b, 8-b, 9-c, 10-c
How’d you score, little dude?
8-10 correct: You’re a total balloon boss!
5-7 correct: Pretty fly for a small fry!
0-4 correct: No worries, bro - you learned something new today!