First manned balloon. Coloured historical artwork of preparations for the first manned ascent in a hot air balloon. The balloon was designed by the French Montgolfier brothers. Aboard were Jean Francis Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent, Marquis d'Arlandes. It took off from the Chateau de la Muette, Paris, France, on 21 November 1783. It flew for 25 minutes, landing 9 kilometres away, near the city centre. The balloon was lifted by hot air from an on-board stove burning wool and straw. The flight had been preceded by unmanned and animal-carrying balloon flights earlier in the year.