Editing Montgolfier brothers (section)

===Public demonstrations, summer 1783===

[[File:Early flight 02562u (2).jpg|thumb|right|150px|First public demonstration in [[Annonay]], 4&nbsp;June 1783]]
To make a public demonstration and to claim its invention, the brothers constructed a globe-shaped balloon of [[hessian (cloth)|sackcloth]] tightened with three thin layers of paper inside. The envelope could contain nearly {{convert|790|m3|ft3|abbr=on}} of air and weighed {{convert|225|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. It was constructed of four pieces (the dome and three lateral bands) and held together by 1,800 buttons. A reinforcing fish net of cord covered the outside of the envelope.

On 4 June 1783, they flew the balloon at [[Annonay]] in front of a group of dignitaries from the ''[[States provincial (France)|états particuliers]]''. The flight covered {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}}, lasted 10 minutes, and had an estimated altitude of {{convert|1,600|–|2,000|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Word of their success quickly reached Paris. Étienne went to the capital to make further demonstrations and to solidify the brothers' claim to the invention of flight. Joseph, given his unkempt appearance and shyness, remained with the family. Étienne was ''the epitome of sober virtues ... modest in clothes and manner...''<ref>[[S. Schama|Schama, S.]] (1989). ''[[Citizens. A Chronicle of the French Revolution]]'', p. 125.</ref>

[[File:First montgolfier brother rv042v13m 0 hx11xg48b.tiff |thumb|left|150px|First Montgolfier brothers balloon, 1783]]
In collaboration with the wallpaper manufacturer [[Jean-Baptiste Réveillon]], Étienne constructed a {{convert|37500|cuft|m3|adj=on}} envelope of taffeta coated with a varnish of [[alum]] for fireproofing. The balloon was sky blue and decorated with golden flourishes, signs of the [[zodiac]], and suns. The design showed the intervention of Réveillon. The next test was on 11 September from the grounds of ''la [[Folie Titon]]'', close to Réveillon's house. There was some concern about the effects of flight into the upper atmosphere on living creatures. The king proposed to launch two convicted criminals, but it is most likely that the inventors decided to send a sheep, a duck, and a rooster aloft first.

On 19 September 1783, the ''Aérostat Réveillon'' was flown with the first living beings in a basket attached to the balloon: a sheep called Montauciel ("Climb-to-the-sky"), a duck and a rooster. The sheep was believed to have a reasonable approximation of human physiology. The duck was expected to be unharmed by being lifted and was included as a control for effects created by the aircraft rather than the altitude. The rooster was included as a further control as it was a bird that did not fly at high altitudes. The demonstration was performed at the royal palace in [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]], before King [[Louis XVI of France]] and Queen [[Marie Antoinette]] and a crowd.<ref>Gillispie, pp. 92–93.</ref> The flight lasted approximately eight minutes, covered {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}}, and obtained an altitude of about {{convert|1500|ft|m}}. The craft landed safely after flying.