Paolo Andreani had seen a model balloon built by Agostino Gerli and his brothers ascend a few feet powered by hot air.
Andreani undertook to fund the Gerli brothers to build a much larger hot-air balloon with a diameter of 23 m (75 ft) that would be capable of allowing a man to take to the air.
The balloon took 24 days to make and its laden weight was about 1,300 kg (2,900 lb).
The first flight was on 25 February 1784.
An invited crowd then gathered on 13 March 1784 at the Villa Sormani which was his brother's residence.
The spectators saw Andreani and two of his assistants ascend to a height of over 1,500 m (4,900 ft) whilst the balloon travelled several kilometres.
The emperor who missed the spectacle arranged for a medal to be made.
The medal featured Gerli's balloon on one side and Andreani on the other to commemorate the ascent.
Paolo Andreani had seen a model balloon built by Agostino Gerli and his brothers ascend a few feet powered by hot air. Andreani undertook to fund the Gerli brothers to build a much larger hot-air balloon with a diameter of 23 m (75 ft) that would be capable of allowing a man to take to the air. The balloon took 24 days to make and its laden weight was about 1,300 kg (2,900 lb). The first flight was on 25 February 1784. An invited crowd then gathered on 13 March 1784 at the Villa Sormani which was his brother's residence. The spectators saw Andreani and two of his assistants ascend to a height of over 1,500 m (4,900 ft) whilst the balloon travelled several kilometres. The emperor who missed the spectacle arranged for a medal to be made. The medal featured Gerli's balloon on one side and Andreani on the other to commemorate the ascent.
Villa Sormani