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Hot Air Balloons

The first hot air balloon took flight in 1783. The passengers were anything but ordinary – a duck, a sheep, and a rooster. They remained in the air for 15 minutes, and then crashed to the ground. Various attempts took place over the next few years from difference sources. They flight time slowly increased as changes were made to the design.

In 1785, two men flew across the English Channel in a hot air balloon. The next man who attempted this feat the same year was killed when his balloon exploded. He had experimented with a hydrogen balloon tied to a hot air balloon. Small changes continued to take place as time progressed.

The Atlantic Challenge took place in 1978. After unsuccessful attempts by many, three men successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon. The flight took 137 hours to complete. Three years later, the Pacific Ocean was successfully crossed. That flight took 84 hours to complete.

As technology progressed, the challenge of hot air balloons took on a bigger risk. The first complete flight around the world was done in 1999. The flight lasted just short of 20 days.

Hot air balloon festivals take place throughout the world each year. The many mixtures of gas and helium allows many to float across the sky with ease. Hot air balloons of a simple balloon with a basket are a unique part of history. Now, hot air balloons come in every shape and size. Some of my favorites are the cow and the beer bottle!

Ironically, the history of the hot air balloon has come back to its roots. The first balloonists burned materials to generate heat to move the balloon. Gas and helium replaced that practice. In the past 30 years, many balloonists have chosen to burn materials in flight.

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