Skip to Main Content
PBS NewsHourWATCH LIVE: Donald Trump"s 2025 InaugurationWatch Live
NOVA

Ben Franklin's Balloons Preview

Experts recreate the French’s daring first manned flights, which Franklin had chronicled.

Aired 09/08/2014 | Rating TV-PG

NOVA

Ben Franklin's Balloons Preview

Preview: Season 41 Episode 17 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions

Experts recreate the French’s daring first manned flights, which Franklin had chronicled.

The first stage in human flight didn’t begin with the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, but with daring inventors and aeronauts in 18th century Paris. In a period of just 19 months, humanity not only left the ground for the first time but thanks to a handful of brilliant and colorful pioneers, developed all the essential features of today's hot air air and gas balloons.

Aired 09/08/2014 | Rating TV-PG

National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

Support provided by:

Carlisle
NOVA

Ben Franklin's Balloons Preview

Preview: Season 41 Episode 17 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions

The first stage in human flight didn’t begin with the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, but with daring inventors and aeronauts in 18th century Paris. In a period of just 19 months, humanity not only left the ground for the first time but thanks to a handful of brilliant and colorful pioneers, developed all the essential features of today's hot air air and gas balloons.

Aired 09/08/2014 | Rating TV-PG

How to Watch NOVA

NOVA is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.

NOVA Labs
Interactive

NOVA Labs

NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages teens and lifelong learners in games and interactives that foster authentic scientific exploration. Participants take part in real-world investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and playing with the same data that scientists use.

National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

Sign in with Email

or

Continue with GoogleContinue with FacebookContinue with Apple

By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Are you sure you want to remove null from My List?