PROGRESS IN FLIGHT

Hot Air Balloons (French) Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier Paper and linen (cloth) Smoke? Didn’t know hot air Wood and straw Live passengers, Sept 1783 Sheep, rooster, duck Sent to determine if they could live in the upper air, many feared the upper air might be poisonous Human passengers, Nov minutes, 5 miles PROGRESS IN FLIGHT

Hot Air Balloons Couldn’t fly where they wanted to go Stayed in air as long as fire continued to heat the trapped air Fuel for fire was heavy PROGRESS IN FLIGHT

Henry Cavendish English chemist discovered a gas in 1766 he called "flammable air“ Gas was later named hydrogen Dr. Joseph Black, chemistry professor, Glasgow University Realized hydrogen could be used in balloons, but didn’t experiment because of teaching schedule PROGRESS IN FLIGHT

Hydrogen Balloons J.A.C. Charles Hired by French Academy of science to investigate hot air balloons Knew of “flammable air” or hydrogen More efficient than hot air, but often caught fire and exploded Benjamin Franklin watched first test and was so impressed, he sent letter to US scientists PROGRESS IN FLIGHT Aug 2007

Hydrogen Balloons Small globe of rubberized silk First manned flight, hours, 27 miles French government began air force in 1783 and used to view enemy during French Revolution First flight from France to England, 1785 First U.S. flight, 1793 George Washington and many from Congress witnessed First parachute jump from 3,000 feet, 1797 PROGRESS IN FLIGHT

BETWEEN WARS Technological Advances Robert Fulton Steamboat First attempts to build railroads in England Eli Whitney (cotton gin) Mass production Muskets for U.S. government Made by machine, not by hand Interchangeable parts Technique sparked beginning of mass production