At the age of 18, Santos-Dumont moved to Paris to study mechanics.  There, soon he became interested in flying on balloons.  He went for an experimental flight on May 23, 1898.  Santos-Dumont loved the experience and right there ordered two balloons at once.  The smaller one was named Brazil, and the larger one Vaugirard.  Brazil was very much a personal balloon able to lift only 180lb and when folded, it could be fit into a hand valise.  Vaugirard, on the other hand, was capable of carrying five people (Ellis, 1977).