In what year did the Montgolfier brothers undertake their first successful balloon flight?

The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne, conducted their first successful balloon flight in 1783. This marked a significant milestone in aviation history as it was the first time humans had flown in a controlled air vehicle—a hot air balloon. The flight took place in Annonay, France, and was a demonstration of the principles of buoyancy and the potential for human flight through the use of lighter-than-air gases.

The success of their flight captured the public’s imagination and laid the groundwork for further developments in aviation. The Montgolfier brothers continued to experiment with balloon designs throughout the year, leading to the first manned flight later in the same year, which further solidified their place in aviation history.

Understanding the context of other years presented in the choices provides insight into why they are not associated with the Montgolfier brothers’ achievements in ballooning. For example, 1790 and 1804 are too late for their initial flights, and 1776 predates their experiments and discoveries entirely. Thus, 1783 is correctly identified as the pivotal year marking the beginning of aerostatic flight.