Notes

.the hot air balloon had a MAJOR impact on the world, as it was the first device to allow humans to ascend above the earth with relative safety, as flapping wings and gliders had killed far more inventors up to that point. The balloon was just coming into it's own during the mid-1800's, and the Am Count Von Zeppelin, of Hindenburg fame, even came over from ACROSS the ocean to ride up in the American Civil war balloons during the war more than once, as a combat Observer, to see and experience the flight characteristics. He eventually went back to Germany, and founded a company that eventually produced the dirigibles and blimps of the early 1900's he became so famous for. So if THAT had no "impact", then I don't know what did. The war ( as wars usually seem to do ) propelled and accelerated the development of hot air balloons, and after that, some war surplus balloons made their way into Fairs, Carnivals, and other events around the USA, and production increased for the civilian market. They were still tricky to operate and envelopes had a short lifespan, and it wasn't until the early 1960's that someone invented the gas/propane burner with the coiled tubing that allowed for reliable and safe operation enough to become available to the sporting masses for a reasonable price, and for artificial materials to become available to make stronger and lighter ( and more colorful ) balloon envelopes.

In a nutshell, the hot air balloon was man's first positive attempt to leave the earth, and much was learned from the experiences, both in atmospheric travel and weather monitoring, and development of the parachute, and gliders which could be released from balloons, and other innovative ideas which eventually led to both helium -lift blimps, and heavier-than-air machines. Most early development was in Europe, with French balloonists getting a lot of credit for research and development, as well as other countries, back during the 1700 and 1800's.In 1793, the French government formed an air arm to the Army, and balloons were used for reconnaissance during the French Revolution. Pierre Blanchard and Dr. John Jeffries made the first balloon flight from one nation to another. They flew across the English Channel from England to France. The flight covered about 20 miles and required almost two hours to complete. Blanchard also piloted the first balloon in the United States. The flight took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1793, and along the many witnesses was President George Washington. The natural philosophers of the time (people like Franklin & Voltaire) took great interest in such undertakings. Many lesser knowns took measuring instruments up with them. Balloons were critical in the development of a study we now call Meteorology, as well as aerial navigation techniques.