Balloons are also equipped with rip panels or parachute tops, which slowly empty the balloon of air when it's time to make a descent. Thursday In the early days of hot-air ballooning, the aeronaut had to fill the bag with hot air on the ground, or he needed to carry dangerous open fires aloft. As you might imagine, accidents were frequent. In 1819 Madame Blanchard, the first woman aeronaut, was killed while ascending during a firework display. With no safe or sustainable way of keeping the air warm, early balloons were destined to come right back down when the balloon bag cooled.
Modern methods make it possible for balloonists to have safer and more satisfying flights.
The pilot spreads the bag out on the ground so that the top lies downwind from the basket. He then attaches the basket and lays it down sideways. A large fan is used to blow air into the mouth of the bag. When it's about half inflated, the pilot fires up the propane burner - as the bag fills with hot air it gradually rises, pulling the basket upright. Friday Pioneer balloonists managed to find a way to break the bonds of gravity, at least for a little while.