The Upper Aijir 
Men have always wondered what it is like in the upper air. 
Even before the invention of the airplane, however, this 
knowledge was growing rapidly through information and 
data gathered on balloon ascents. 
The first practical balloon was constructed in 1782 by the 
brothers Montgolfier, Joseph and Etienne, who succeeded in 
sending up bags filled with smoke and hot air at the small 
French town of Annonay. In 1783 the physicist J. A. C. 
Charles constructed a balloon which was filled with hydrogen 
gas. It was not long before both types of balloons were built 
in larger sizes, and the first human being ascended in one. 
The first free hydrogen balloon ascension was made at Paris 
in 1783 by P. de Rozier and the Marquis d’Arlandes in a 
Montgolfier balloon. Perhaps the largest hot air balloon ever 
built was made in 1784 at Lyons. It was said to be over 100 
feet in diameter, filled with hot air supplied by a little fur- 
nace that used chopped straw as fuel. 
Soon after, Blanchard and Jeffries crossed the English | 
Channel in a balloon. Several times during the voyage they 
found themselves descending and had to cut away all cords, 
anchors, instruments, even discard their clothes and shoes. — 
It was only a matter of time which saved them from being 
forced to the last measure: that of cutting away the car it 
self. In 1793 Blanchard made the first balloon trip in the 
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