What was the name of the balloon used for the first free human flight in 1783?

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The first free human flight in 1783 used a Montgolfier balloon, the hot-air craft developed by Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier.

The balloon was built for the Paris ascent of 21 November 1783, when Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d’Arlandes became the first people to fly freely. Early balloons were often identified by their builders or descriptions rather than by a single standardized aircraft name, so “Montgolfier balloon” is the canonical designation for this historic craft.

The Montgolfiers’ design relied on heated air inside a large fabric envelope. A fire beneath the opening warmed the air, producing lift. The passengers stood in a gallery around the lower part of the envelope.

It is sometimes confused with Flesselles, the balloon used for an earlier tethered demonstration at Annonay. Flesselles was important, but it was not the craft used for the first free human flight.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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