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
