Gas Ballooning Anniversary!

Dec. 1, will mark the anniversary of the the first manned flight of a gas balloon by Jacques.Alexandre Cesar Charles and N. Roberts  made from Tuileries Gardens  in Paris, France on December 1, 1783. The balloon was 26 feet in diameter with alternating Red and White Silk Gores.  

The interesting thing about this balloon is it was only the second balloon that J.A.C. Charles and the Roberts Brothers (Jean & Noel) built.  It was complete in every detail.  Charles realized very early he must be able to control the balloon so he invented the valve and ballast system. The second balloon epitomized the finished technology.  Nothing more than minor refinements would be made to the gas balloon over the next two hundred plus years.