(Image by somadjinn)
In legends around the world, gods, mythical creatures and birds could soar through the air naturally, but humans could only breach this territory using magical aid. Scores of people, from da Vinci to Lana de Terzi, speculated on how humans could achieve sustained flight sans divine aid, often observing birds to try and emulate them. However, in 1690, scientists demonstrated that human muscles were insufficient for sustaining flight in imitation of the birds, which led many to abandon the idea in favour of lighter-than-air machines like the balloon (Singer).
The balloon, brainchild of paper manufacturers Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier from Annonay in southern France, made its first ascent on 4 June 1783. This contraption worked on the principle that hot air is lighter than cool air, so heating up the air inside the balloon would lift it into the sky.
