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1783: the Montgolfier brothers demonstrate their hot air balloon over Ammonay France 1784:Opera star Elisbeth Thible becomes the first woman to fly in an untetherd Montgolfier balloon over Lyon, France.
Monsieur Fleurant ( the pilot) originally planned to fly the balloon with Count Jean-Baptiste de Laurencin, but the count, having suffered a near calamity-fire-on a previous flight- Chivalrously gave his position on The Gustave to Élisabeth Thible, a celebrated opera star of the time. When the balloon left the ground, Thible, dressed as the Roman goddess Minerva,(goddess of wisdom?!!) and Fleurant sang two duets from Monsigny's La Belle Arsène, The flight lasted 45 minutes, covered four kilometres and achieved an estimated height of 1,500 meters. It was witnessed by King Gustave III of Sweden, in whose honor the balloon was named. During the bumpy landing, Thible turned an ankle as the basket hit the ground. She was credited by Fleurent with the success of the flight; both because she fed the balloon's fire box en route and by exhibiting her remarkable courage.[wiki] Proof of Yogi Berra's (among others) adage: "It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings!"