balloon flight: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Hot-air balloon being deflated

Labeled diagram of a hot air balloon showing key components: the colorful envelope with gores, parachute valve at the top, skirt at the base, burners and wind guard above the woven basket where passengers ride.

The first manned balloon ascent

Montgolfier balloon

A person stands on a platform beside a metal building at the South Pole Meteorological station, releasing a large weather balloon into the sky.

Hot-air balloon

Hot-air balloons

1965 U.S. National Championship balloon races

A hot-air balloon's propane burners

The element helium

View the picturesque landscape of New Zealand's Southern Alps in a hot-air balloon

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

balloon aviation formation flying The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart history of flight airport Aerobatics 7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances Stunt flying skydiving Defying Gravity: 7 of the Biggest Things That Ever Flew gliding

Concorde. Front end of one of the 20 Concorde supersonic airplanes. A joint British French production they flew for 30 years (1973-2003).

Navigating the Sky