Record Balloon Flights

There are world and national champion­ships for both hot air and gas balloons. Like airplane pilots, balloon pilots in the United States must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In 1978, Ben Abruzzo of the United States and two companions made the first flight in a balloon across the Atlantic Ocean, in the helium balloon Double Eagle II. In 1981, Abruzzo also became the first balloon pilot to fly the Pacific Ocean, in his Double Eagle V.

The Pacific crossing of 5,768 miles (9,310 kilometers) took 84 hours and 31 minutes. The first Atlantic crossing by a hot air balloon was made in 1987, by Richard Branson of Britain and Per Lindstrand of Sweden. They also made the first trans-Pacific flight in a hot air balloon, in 1991.

The first balloonists to circle Earth were Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland and Brian Jones of Britain. They made the record-breaking flight of 26,602 miles (42,802 kilometers) between March 1 and March 20, 1999, in their balloon Breitling Orbiter III.

SEE ALSO:

• Airship • Montgolfier, Jacques-

Etienne and Joseph-Michel

• Parachute