Hot air balloons are a type of transportation that have been around for centuries and continue to capture the wonder and imagination of people all over the world. This unique and fascinating form of travel combines the beauty of flight with the nostalgia of simpler times. History of Hot Air Balloons The first hot air balloon flight took place in 1783 in France, when the Montgolfier brothers successfully launched a balloon with a sheep, a duck, and a rooster as passengers.