WI : early hot air balloons had been taken more seriously

The early works of the Montgolfier brothers and air trips of Pilatre de Rosier were quite innovative for their time, but it seems it was considered as little more than a fanciful hobby for the nobility, with no actual potential for much else.

One of the reasons it may not have taken off (huhu) at the time is the highly hazardous nature of the flights, as is testified by the crash and death of Pilatre de Rosier while attempting to cross the Channel in 1785.

But what if he had succeeded to cross the Channel, and then went on to more successful (and daring) trips? Could the potential of hot air/early gas balloons been perceived for a wide variety of domains early on(science and military would probably be the most funky ones) ? And what would be the consequences of that, in France at first, and then spreading.

Let it be clear that I'm not advocating the dirigibles/zeppelin bonanza that can often come across in some steampunk alternate TL, rather a slightly more sustained development of hot air/gas balloons in late 18th, early 19th century.
 
Last edited:
No.
They're expensive to make, that much silk is expensive
You can't steer them. You're at the mercy of the winds

Could there be an earlier niche role for them as spotters on a battlefield? Maybe. As transport, no way.

Even tethered observation balloons require a decent method of getting information back to the ground.
 
The potential of hot air balloons was realized almost immediately. By 1794 the French had established the Aerostatic Corps and they participated in several battles in the Napoleonic era, although their equipment was unfortunately destroyed by the British in Egypt before they could make a major contribution. By 1850 the military applications of balloons were widely accepted. Austria even attempted an aerial bombing of Venice using 200 unmanned balloons in 1849.
 
No.
They're expensive to make, that much silk is expensive
You can't steer them. You're at the mercy of the winds

Could there be an earlier niche role for them as spotters on a battlefield? Maybe. As transport, no way.

Even tethered observation balloons require a decent method of getting information back to the ground.

The idea is not the sudden widespread use of balloons as proto zeppelins, but more of a steady development. Tethered balloons can be an interesting starting point. And I'm not denying the costs either, it would remain fairly low scale and experimental for a bit of time, but its use would grow faster and further than IOTL.
 
The potential of hot air balloons was realized almost immediately. By 1794 the French had established the Aerostatic Corps and they participated in several battles in the Napoleonic era, although their equipment was unfortunately destroyed by the British in Egypt before they could make a major contribution. By 1850 the military applications of balloons were widely accepted. Austria even attempted an aerial bombing of Venice using 200 unmanned balloons in 1849.

There is indeed a lot potential in the Aerostatic Corps if it hadn't been disbanded. Perhaps a more consistent use in Napoleonic wars and it might be even seen as instrumental to Nappy's strategic paradigm.
 
In theory this technology can be produced or used very far back in the written history era. Like gliders there are possibilities several millennia back.

Yep, just look at all the relatively static fortified regions, like the Roman limes, Sassanid Persia's Gorgan Wall, the Byzantine-Arab border, the Great Wall of China, etc. Having balloons attached to border forts helps scout the area and perhaps saves horses and soldiers, and during sieges might serve as an archery platform. It's expensive, but isn't building the forts there expensive enough?
 
Air Ferries: Thinking out loud here, I wonder if there could have been a niche for hot air balloons as a kind of aerial ferry between two fixed points. You could use ropes to pull it back and forth, just like a water ferry. It could in areas where a water ferry wouldn't work because the water was too rough or over land somewhere where the existing conditions made the land impassable. Like a canyon or gorge, perhaps.

Obviously it would need to be a situation where the balloon was either less expensive than building a bridge or going around, or where the contemporary tech could not meet the challenge of construction.

Aerial siege engines: Should be possible to get a hot air balloon maneuvered to where it can shoot down on the defenders of a fort but the fort defenders can't do shoot back. Would help with assaults. More innovatively, the balloon could itself be used in the assault. Using guy wires and such, or just a favorable breeze, it could be maneuvered over the walls and then come crashing down either inside the walls or on them. If you really develop this tech, you could even do something like maneuver a ramp into place. That last idea, though, might be a bridge too far.

Sea observation: Seems to me there is a window where large sea-going vessels might be able to take a hot air balloon to sea and where the ability to see far out in clear weather would make it worthwhile. if the tech develops, you might even get some small or one-off balloons that could be launched from a frigate, who knows?
 
Aerial siege engines: Should be possible to get a hot air balloon maneuvered to where it can shoot down on the defenders of a fort but the fort defenders can't do shoot back. Would help with assaults. More innovatively, the balloon could itself be used in the assault. Using guy wires and such, or just a favorable breeze, it could be maneuvered over the walls and then come crashing down either inside the walls or on them.

I recall a medieval manuscript depicting using a kite to drop firepots n such, though im afraid i don't remember the manuscript's name
 
Air Ferries: Thinking out loud here, I wonder if there could have been a niche for hot air balloons as a kind of aerial ferry between two fixed points. You could use ropes to pull it back and forth, just like a water ferry. It could in areas where a water ferry wouldn't work because the water was too rough or over land somewhere where the existing conditions made the land impassable. Like a canyon or gorge, perhaps.

Maybe a surviving Inca empire could use them to get around the Andes?
 
Air Ferries: Thinking out loud here, I wonder if there could have been a niche for hot air balloons as a kind of aerial ferry between two fixed points. You could use ropes to pull it back and forth, just like a water ferry. It could in areas where a water ferry wouldn't work because the water was too rough or over land somewhere where the existing conditions made the land impassable. Like a canyon or gorge, perhaps.

Maybe a surviving Inca empire could use them to get around the Andes?

19th Century Inca Empire imports technology from Europe to create a widespread and intricate network of air ferries across the Andes to connect cities and regions. Not sure how applicable that is but boy does it sound good.
 
Top