Conversation so far:
where was the first hot air balloon invented
The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed in Paris, France.
who was the first hot air balloon flight performed by
The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes.
when was the first hot air balloon flight performed
The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed on November 21, 1783.

Question: what was the precursor to the invention
Self-contained rewrite: what was the precursor to the hot air balloon