On 21 November 1783 two courageous Frenchmen became the first human beings to fly. They rose silently above the rooftops of Paris in a richly-decorated paper balloon, the invention of the Montgolfier brothers.
Last year to commemorate this remarkable event the French launched replicas and played host to balloonists from all over the world who came to celebrate 200 years of flight.
Written, narrated by Brian Thompson
Music DON PERCIVAL
Assistant producer MICHAEL HUTCHINSON Producer PHILIP SPEIGHT