​​At the blast of a cannon, a sheep, duck and cockerel entered a round wicker basket tied to a balloon. It sounds like the perfect setup for a joke, but this is the true story of the first “manned” Hot Air Balloon flight.

In 1783, Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier launched Le Révellion, an 18.47m tall balloon made of cotton canvas that weighed 400 grams. To the amazement of the Parisian people below, it soared 600 metres into the air. Granted, the animals didn’t have the greatest time, but this historic event paved the way for centuries of innovation.

Today, the biggest passenger carrying balloon can hold 32 passengers and 2 pilots. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the largest balloon festival in the world sees 500 balloons in attendance each year.

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