French Balloons (Not French Letters)

A View of Paris in 1878… From the Air “ CLICK It’s hard to believe that humans have been flying for well over 100 years. Even when we take into account that the Wright brothers took to the air in 1903, that isn’t even old when compared to the first flights. Before the Wrights there was Octave Chanute and Otto Lilienthal, pioneering glider inventors; and before them there was Henri Giffard, creator of the first powered flying machine – a steam powered airship. No, not hard at all ya whippersnapper.  The Federals were using balloons during the war of Northern Aggression in 1862.  Still, it is fascinating to look back in time—if it was someplace I was familiar with.   Perhaps, if you're a Francophile, you'll notice what's wrong with this picture. It's pretty obvious.  Barn Army bombardiers will have no problem.  Give up?   Here. ”