What did the Montgolfier brothers invent?

The Montgolfier brothers were pioneers in the field of aerostatic flight and are most famously known for inventing the hot air balloon. Their invention was inspired by observing the way smoke from a fire rises, leading them to experiment with heated air in a confined space. In 1782, they successfully launched the first manned flight in a hot air balloon, demonstrating that it was possible for humans to ascend into the air using lighter-than-air gases.

The significance of the hot air balloon lies in its foundational role in the history of aviation. It marked one of the first instances where human beings could achieve flight, paving the way for future developments in ballooning and eventually leading to advancements in aircraft design and technology. The hot air balloon operates on the principle of buoyancy; as the air inside the balloon is heated, it becomes less dense than the cooler air outside, causing the balloon to rise.

This achievement stood in contrast to other flying devices that were being developed at the time, such as helicopters, rigid dirigibles, and gliders, which involve different engineering principles and concepts of flight. The Montgolfier brothers' innovation focused specifically on the use of heated air, making their work a landmark event in the story of manned