“I feel humbled and honored to fly with Bert Padelt,” Sir David Hempleman-Adams
In an insightful interview with Sitara Maruf, illustrious British explorer, aviator, and trailblazer, Sir David Hempleman-Adams, emphasized the invaluable role played by dedicated teams throughout his endeavors and offered his unique perspective on the world of exploration. Beyond his adventures, he passionately discussed his philanthropic initiatives and the guidance he imparts to young enthusiasts, inspiring […]
Scientist and Aviator Julian Nott Dies After a Bizarre Accident
It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we report the death of renowned aeronaut Julian Nott on March 26, 2019. Nott passed away peacefully in a hospital, on Tuesday, after suffering serious injuries in what seems to be a bizarre capsule accident after a successful balloon flight and landing. His loving partner of […]
Tracy Barnes: Pioneer of Lighter-than-Air Flight
Admired as a brave pioneer and mechanical genius in lighter-than-air aviation, Tracy Lay Barnes made hot-air ballooning a safer and enjoyable sport. Barnes’ most important contribution to ballooning—the self-sealing parachute valve—advanced safety and control of hot-air balloons, consequently expanding the sport and business of ballooning in the United States and around the world. Tracy Lay […]
Largest Airship Gets Production Approval
Production of the world’s largest hybrid airship will begin this year with a model designed for commercial use. UK-based manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) that created Airlander 10, has received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and company officials hope that their innovative airship will take to the skies in early 2020s. Meanwhile, Airlander […]
NASA’s Future Mission to Venus — Humans in Floating Airships?
Popular science fiction of the early 20th century depicted Venus as some kind of wonderland of pleasantly warm temperatures, forests, swamps and even dinosaurs. In 1950, the Hayden Planetarium at the American Natural History Museum were soliciting reservations for the first space tourism mission, well before the modern era of Blue Origins, SpaceX , and Virgin Galactic. All you […]
Museum Highlights Advances in Science and Technology by Balloonists
With an emphasis on the science, technology, engineering, and math-related contributions of world-renowned balloonists, the redesigned International Ballooning Hall of Fame at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, now open to the public, delves into the groundbreaking advancements and achievements of Hall of Fame inductees. The new exhibition traces the stories of inductees, beginning […]
Poland Wins Gas Balloon Race; USA-2 Finishes Second
A Polish team has flown their gas balloon 1145.29 kilometers from Bern, Switzerland, without touching down, achieving the furthest distance from take-off and winning the 2018 Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett. Mateusz Rękas and Jacek Bogadanski at 3,800 meters in the 2018 Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race over Europe. Photo Credit: Rekas and Bogadanski The Poland […]
British Airship Pioneer Inducted as Living Legend of Aviation
With an emphasis on the science, technology, engineering, and math-related contributions of world-renowned balloonists, the redesigned International Ballooning Hall of Fame at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, now open to the public, delves into the groundbreaking advancements and achievements of Hall of Fame inductees. The new exhibition traces the stories of inductees, beginning […]
Upcoming FUGO Balloon Exhibit Needs $137,000
Two museums in Michigan have come together to create a hands-on exhibit of the world’s first intercontinental bomb, which is a rare World War II artifact. The exhibit will educate visitors about the history and science of Japanese bomb-carrying balloons, called FUGOs. These scientifically inventive weapons were unleashed by the Japanese military to fly the […]
MSU Presents Early Results of Solar Eclipse Ballooning Project
During the August 2017 total solar eclipse, the planetary boundary layer—also known as the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) —sank to roughly 2,500 feet, according to Angela Des Jardins, principal investigator of the Eclipse Ballooning Project. Des Jardins, who is also director of the Montana Space Grant Consortium, was one of five scientists on a panel […]
