How do we travel?
Some forms of travel are environmentally friendly.
Is this earth-friendly?
One of the earliest forms of air travel is the hot air balloon. This form of travel does not need fuel to move. The air in the balloon is heated and this causes the balloon to rise up into the sky. The wind blows the balloon along.
From early times, people have wanted to fly in the sky like a bird. Some designs look very odd to us today! This air-ship was to be kept in the sky by magnets, but it did not work.
Some people were afraid of the air balloons. This hydrogen balloon was torn to pieces by the townspeople of Genoa, in 1783, because they feared terrible things would happen if it flew in the sky.
In1783 Pilatre De Rozier, a scientist, launched the first hot air balloon called 'Aerostat Reveillon'. The passengers were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. The balloon stayed in the air for 15 minutes before crashing back to the ground.
The first manned attempt came about 2 months later on 21st November, with a balloon made by 2 French brothers, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier.
The balloon was launched from the centre of Paris and flew for a period of 20 minutes. This was the first successful hot air balloon flight with people !
The people of Paris were amazed to see the balloon in the sky above them. They thought it was a wonderful new way to travel, to fly like a bird up in the sky.
Hot air balloons became a wonderful way to see the world from a great height.
The different parts of a balloon
Balloons can be made in all shapes and sizes.
Would you like to travel in a giant bird?
Or how about a trip with Spongebob Squarepants?
Today, many people still love travelling in hot air balloons. They gather together to have balloon races over great distances.
Youtube video on hot air balloons: 1.Up, up and away (song and still photographs)Up, up and away 2.2. Hot air balloons ( info re balloons by sciencemadefun)Hot air balloons