Believe/Blue Monday

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Linking to Blue Monday

H/ABC Wednesday

H is for Hot Air Balloon

I didn't remember I have photos for "H" in my archives until I saw hot air balloons on TV about an hour ago.  These were taken in February last year at the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Field.

According to Wiki, hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology.  It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft.  Unmanned hot air balloons are popular in Chinese history.  Airborne lanterns were used by the Chinese for military signalling as early as 220-280 AD.  The first tethered manned balloon flight was made in France in  1873.

Modern hot air balloons with an on-board heat source were pioneered by Paul Edward Yost, referred to as the Father of Modern Day Hot Air Balloon, in the 1950's.  His first successful flight was in October 1960. 

Vijaypat Singhania set the world altitude record for the highest hot air balloon flight on November 26, 2005, reaching 21,027 meters.  He took off from downtown Mumbai and landed 240 km south in Panchale.

The longest flight in a hot air balloon was accomplished on January 15, 1991 by the Virgin Pacific Flyer balloon manned by Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson---they flew 7,671.91 km from Japan to Northern Canada. 

" For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." ~ Leonardo Da Vinci

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Signs @ the Hot Air Balloon Festival

@ mirandablue

The Aviation Society of the Philippines celebrated the 100th year of Power Flight in the Philippines early this year.  There were also a series of lectures on the History of Philippine Aviation in mid-August.

The Kite Association of the Philippines was established in early 1990's by avid kite enthusiasts to revive, develop and promote the age-old Asian tradition of kite-making and kite-flying.

@ mirandablue

Join us at Signs, Signs

Midweek Blues: Fontana bridge

@ mirandablue

An afternoon stroll at the park behind Fontana Hotel and Casino. This is one of  the few bridges around the park built over a man-made pond. Fontana is located inside Clark Ecozone, a former American Airbase.

Join us at Midweek Blues

Midweek Blues: Trike

@ mirandablue

A blue trike carrying popsicles and other frozen delights on a hot and humid afternoon.  Heaven-sent!

Linked to Midweek Blues hosted by Rebecca