1783 -- The first gas balloon flight was accomplished: Jacques A.C. Charles a French professor of philosophy who had been experimenting with the recently discovered hydrogen gas for applications with balloon flight. With help of the Noel Roberts who developed a rubber as a coating material provided the key to containing hydrogen in the balloon fabric. 10 days after the first hot air balloon flight was made by the Montgolfier brothers.

The Gas Balloon was invented by:

The French chemist, physicist, and aeronaut Jacques Alexandre C©sar Charles, was born November 12, 1746, in Beaugency, Loiret, France. Beginning as a clerk in the finance ministry, Charles turned to science and experimented with electricity. He developed several inventions, including a hydrometer and reflecting goniometer, and improved the Gravesand heliostat and Fahrenheit's aerometer. He is best known for his formulation in 1787 of one of the basic gas laws, known as Charles's law, which states that, at constant pressure, the volume occupied by a fixed weight of gas is directly proportional to the absolute temperature. However, during his lifetime, Charles was better known for inventing the hydrogen balloon.