Élisabeth Thible, or Elizabeth Tible[1] (née Estrieux, 8 March 1757 – 13 February 1785), was the first woman to make a flight in an untethered hot air balloon.
On 4 June 1784, eight months after the first crewed balloon flight, Thible flew with Mr. Fleurant on board a hot air balloon christened La Gustave in honour of King Gustav III of Sweden's visit to Lyon.
[5][Note 1] When the balloon left the ground Thible, dressed as the Roman goddess Minerva, and Fleurant sang two duets from Monsigny's La Belle Arsène, a celebrated opera of the time.
The flight lasted 45 minutes, covered 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), and achieved an estimated altitude of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).
She was credited by Fleurant with the success of the flight both because she fed the balloon's fire box en route and by exhibiting her remarkable courage.