Model of the Montgolfier balloon "Le Flesselles", 1784 (scale 1:50)

Model (scale 1:50). Thie original balloon, made an ascent from Lyon, France, on 19 January 1784. With a capacity of 700,000 cubic feet, 'Le Flesselle' was the largest Montgolfier balloon ever made. A combination of unfavourable winter conditions, and a failure of the balloon's fabric at a point of previous damage meant that the balloon only reached a height of 3000 feet before making a somewhat rapid descent back to earth.