Montgolfier 'Le Globe' balloon. 19th-century illustration of the ascent of the unmanned hydrogen balloon 'Le Globe', launched by the Montgolfier brothers from the Champs de Mars, Paris, France, on 27 August 1783. This was the first hydrogen gas balloon flight. The first unmanned Montgolfier hot air balloon flew on 5 June 1783. Other flights by Montgolfier balloons that year included one on 19 September 1783 (first to carry animals) and on 21 November 1783 (first manned flight). Artwork from 'Aerostation - Aviation' (1911) by French civil engineer Max de Nansouty (1854-1913), part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.