Tonight… I don’t really have a lot of hot air in me.  So… instead I will tell you a short, but very true story.

I for one, have never ridden in one.  I am not sure that I ever will.  I’d probably like it.  But there have been some pretty unsuccessful stories concerning the Hot Air Balloon.

When they were first invented and launched, they went up and came down… without a soul in them.  But the first “manned flight” was NOT really manned at all.  It was anim-ated.  Yep.  Filled with a couple of animals.

On the 19th Day of September in the year 1783 a guy name Pilatre De Rozier scheduled a launch.  His hot air balloon was called ‘Aerostat Reveillon’.  Now, this guy was a scientist and he had a very good reason for the choice of his passengers.   Most of which came directly from his boss.

You see, scientists back then, typically did not have a lot of money.  So they sought out “sponsors” for their explorations.  Pilatre De Rozier, (let’ call him Pat) was no different.  He found a very rich Jean Picot. (How’s John sound from here on out.)

So the morning of the launch, John and Pat were getting the basket ready, testing early hot air fills.  They tethered the basket to the ground with stakes, and such.  On the second air fill, they were discussing “WHO” should go up.  Well… the basket started to drift a bit… and Boss John said to Pat…. in his French-ness….. “Duck you cock.”

Well, the basket hit Pat and knocked him down, but that was neither here nor there.  However, an hour later, during the real launch, Boss John thought Pat was taking the thing up for a spin.

Much to his surprise, up went a duck and a sheep, and a rooster.   John yelled to Pat… “You idiot. What have you done?”

Pat replied… “Exactly what you said.  Balloon! Duck! Ewe! Cock!”

And history was made.