SAEDNEWS: See Naser al-Din Shah Qajar’s Account of a Hot Air Balloon Ascent from Dar al-Funun School
According to Saed News Community, Naser al-Din Shah writes in his memoirs:
"On [Saturday] the 8th of Rabi’ al-Awwal [1294 AH], five hours before sunset, in front of the Dar al-Fonun school, two large balloons were launched—the same balloonists as before. First, a large red balloon ascended with a single passenger. It did not rise very high and soon landed in the garden and house of E'tezad-ol-Dowleh.
We, along with the attendants, were atop the Shams-ol-Emareh. Adib, Farrokh Khan, Siyachi Vaji, and others were present. Many people—essentially the entire city—watched from rooftops and streets. Half an hour later, a beautifully proportioned white balloon ascended. Two passengers were seated in it. It rose smoothly and straight into the sky, reaching nearly two thousand zar‘ [cubits] high, where people appeared as small as pigeons.
It hovered in the sky for half an hour, providing an excellent view for the spectators, before descending directly into the garden of Sepahsalar. Qamar al-Saltaneh (Sepahsalar’s wife) and her attendants rushed toward the balloonists as it landed."
