Template:POTD/2004-08-17
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2004 August
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Picture of the day
Hot air balloons
are the oldest successful human
flight
technology, dating back to the
Montgolfier brothers
' invention in
Annonay
,
France
in
1783
. The first manned flight was made in
Paris
by
Pilâtre de Rozier
and the
Marquis d'Arlandes
. Unmanned hot air balloons are mentioned in
Chinese
history.
Chu-ko Kung-ming
(諸葛 孔明) in the
three kingdoms
era used airborne lanterns for military signalling.
Photo credit:
Randy Oostdyk
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