Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier (1754-1785), French balloonist, historical artwork. Rozier is famous for being on the first manned hot air balloon flight on 21st November 1783, along with Marquis d'Arlandes, when they took to the air in a balloon designed by the Montgolfier brothers. During the 25-minute flight they travelled 12 kilometres and attained an altitude of almost one kilometre (3,000 feet). His final flight was on 15th June 1785, when he and Jules Romain crashed in their Royal Balloon near Boulogne, France. Both men were killed in the crash, which is considered the world's first aviation disaster.