History

The history of balloons stretches back to 1782, when the inventor brothers Mongolfier decided to experiment with dynamic electricity, or rather, with gases filling the shells. During the experiments, several of the test balloons flew away, which prompted the younger of the brothers, Etienne, to think about the purposeful flight of the balloon. Soon, the brothers presented their first model of a balloon – a small balloon with a silk shell and a hole in the bottom.

Under this hole, they burned paper, the air inside the balloon warmed up, and the model rose to the ceiling of the room where the experiment was conducted. After that, the brothers made several larger shells and began launching the balloons outdoors. The first public demonstration of the flight of an unmanned balloon with a shell made of coarse linen cloth covered with paper took place on June 5, 1783 in Annona, when the device reached an altitude of about 1800 meters. After flight tests with animals on board, in 1783 the first ever human flight in an aircraft took place – the brothers launched a balloon with a crew of two people flying over Paris.

In general, in the beginning, balloons were used by meteorologists to monitor temperature and weather. Throughout the 19th century, balloon and balloon technology evolved through improvements. Lighter and stronger materials for balloon shells were developed, as well as systems for controlling the height and direction of flight. However, the army began using balloons more than 150 years ago: for reconnaissance, artillery guidance, and bombing enemy positions.

Nowadays, balloons can be used for different purposes: transport (cargo, passenger), communication, demonstration, meteorological, specialized, combat (reconnaissance, surveillance, correction, bombing, barrier, combined and also to serve as a false radar force).