Since the advent of flight, joining the "Mile High Club" has had a certain sordid appeal to travellers.
Even back in 1785, two years after the invention of the hot air balloon, two English lords made a wager over whether one could have sex "in a balloon one thousand yards from the Earth".
Lord Cholmondeley succeeded in his endeavor – and his two guinea bet against Lord Derby resulted in a gain of 500 guineas and the lofty title of the first member of the Mile High Club.
This tale was recently recounted in an article for Vice, which also collected a number of stories from travellers on how they gained their membership – including one clever trick from a man who said he'd done it twice.
![Air balloon wagers: Since Around the World in 80 Days, the advent of flight has inspired some wild propositions. Photo / Getty Archive](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/MENYJ365MK7UNSZU2HMSETENTA.jpg?auth=51c5776fd11f96caa97f28b0e7a903f4597f478125f42d1d580d9a8b07439f9d&width=16&height=23&quality=70&smart=true)