It wasn’t until 1978 when the Atlantic was finally crossed in a hot air balloon. Three people piloted the balloon, Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman and flew 3,120 miles in 137 hours. The balloon was called the Double Eagle II and has now become a part of balloon history.

All three pilots had several years of aviation experience between them, including hot air balloons, airplanes and gliders. Abruzzo and Anderson had attempted the Atlantic crossing the year before in 1977 but failed as the balloon crashed into the sea off the coast of Iceland.

The balloon launched on the 11th August 1978 from Presque Isle an Maine, and the first 5 days went as planned. On the sixth day the atmospheric conditions caused the balloon to drop 19,500 feet to its lowest point of just above 4,000 feet, which is known as the Big Drop. Luckily the sun heated the envelope and the balloon was able to rise to a safe level.

Once they had passed Iceland they knew that they had done it, and on getting to France started their decent. A transcontinental balloon had never landed on dry land before and upon landing the pilots had made balloon history.

Balloons have been used by the military for hundreds of years and were mainly used for reconnaissance and battlefield map making. It wasn’t until 1941 that the British used balloons as weapons to fight the Germans during World War II.

Operation Outward was given the go ahead in September 1941 and consisted of free-flying balloons with two different types of weapon. The first was a steel trailing wire, intended to damage high voltage line by producing a short circuit. The second was a set of flexible socks filled with flammable material designed to start fires in forests and fields.

The first launches took place on the 20th March 1942 and within days the British were receiving reports of fires near Berlin and Tilsit. Interception of German radio soon showed that German planes were trying to shoot the balloons down, this encouraged the British as it cost the Germans more to shoot a balloon down than it cost the British to make.

On the 12th July a wire carrying balloon struck a high voltage power line near Liepzig and the resulting fire destroyed Bohlen power station. In the lead up to D-day balloon launches became more sporadic, as there were fears that Allied bombers might get damaged. The last balloons were launched on 4th September 1944.

At least today when you take your Hot air balloon ride you can rest assured that there is no chance of being shot down by a German plane, it’s just you, the tranquil countryside and the peaceful sound of the wind gently lifting you away.