Following Launches
In 1766, the British scientist Henry Cavendish had discovered hydrogen, by adding sulphuric acid to iron, tin, or zinc shavings. The development of gas balloons proceeded almost in parallel with the work of the Montgolfiers. This work was led by Jacques Charles and les Frères Robert (Anne-Jean Robert, and Nicolas-Louis Robert). On 27 August 1783, their hydrogen balloon was launched from the Champ de Mars in Paris. Six thousand people paid for a seat. On 1 December Jacques Charles and Nicolas-Louis Robert flew La Charlière, the first manned hydrogen balloon, for 2 hours 5 minutes and covered 36 km. Jacques Charles immediately flew again, alone, and ascended to 3,000 metres.
Work on each type of balloon was spurred on by the knowledge that there was a competing group and alternative technology. For a variety of reasons, including the fact that the French government chose to put a proponent of hydrogen in charge of balloon development, interest in hot air balloons was largely superseded by gas balloons over the following decades.
Hydrogen balloons were used for all subsequent major ballooning accomplishments, such as the crossing of the English Channel on 7 January 1785 by the Franco-American aviators Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr. John Jeffries. In recent times many aviation endurance records have been achieved by hybrid balloon designs such as the Rozière Balloon; which combine the altitude control of hot air balloons with the permanent buoyancy of lifting gases.
Read more about this topic: Montgolfier Brothers