On This Day, October 15, 1783, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier made a significant contribution to the field of aviation by becoming the first person to make a tethered balloon ascent. This event marked a momentous step in the history of human flight and the exploration of the skies.
The flight took place in Paris, France, using a hot air balloon created by the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne. These brothers were pioneering figures in the early history of flight, and their invention of the hot air balloon opened a new realm of possibilities for human transportation and exploration.
De Rozier’s ascent was not a free flight, as the balloon was tethered to the ground for safety. Nevertheless, the flight was a groundbreaking achievement. It demonstrated the practicality and potential of balloon flight to a wider public. De Rozier, an enthusiastic promoter of the Montgolfier brothers’ invention, became an important figure in the early days of aeronautics.
This initial tethered flight laid the groundwork for the first untethered, manned balloon flight, which also involved Pilâtre de Rozier, along with the Marquis d’Arlandes, just over a month later on November 21, 1783. The Montgolfier brothers’ balloons and Pilâtre de Rozier’s daring flights played a crucial role in advancing human understanding of and capability in air travel, representing an important chapter in the annals of aviation history.
