the Montgolfier brothers

The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne, were pioneers of human flight in the late 18th century. They invented the hot air balloon—called a "montgolfière"—by shaping fabric and filling it with heated air, which made the vessel rise due to buoyancy. Their first successful public flight took place in 1783 in France, marking the world's first manned ascent in a hot air balloon. Their innovations laid the groundwork for the development of modern aeronautics, inspiring future advancements in aviation and exploration.