who invented the ancient chinese hot air balloon
History of ballooning Unmanned hot air balloons are popular in Chinese history. Zhuge Liang of the Shu Han kingdom, in the Three Kingdoms era (c. AD 220-280) used airborne lanterns for military signaling. These lanterns are known as Kongming lanterns (孔明灯).[1][2]
Early flying machines In the 1st century AD, Chinese Emperor Wang Mang recruited a specialist scout to be bound with bird feathers; he is claimed to have glided about 100 meters.[1] In 559 AD, Yuan Huangtou is said to have landed safely following an enforced tower jump.[2]