Art Pottery

Hot Air

McCoy #353 Hot Air Balloon Cookie Jar $26.99

Vintage Kaiser Western Germany Hot Air Balloon Miniature Plate 4″ NR $5.99

McCoy Hot Air Balloon Vintage Cookie Jar #353 1985-1986 $44.99

Vintage Desimone ’65 Italy Round Serving Dish 10″ Boy With A Hot Air Balloon $182.99

Mccoy Cookie Jar YELLOW HOT AIR BALLOON #353 USA $25.00

Vintage Vtg OTAGIRI Coffee Mug Cup Hot Air Balloons Clouds Ceramic Blue Gold $19.99

Otagiri Japan Art Pottery Hot Air Balloon Rainbow Stoneware 8 Oz Coffee Cup Mug $13.45

$800 COLLECTORS HOT AIR BALLOON Staffordshire England ENAMEL PORCELAIN BOX $500.00

Hot Air Balloon Rides

The history

The first hot air balloon, just like the first space rocket, had animals as the passengers. The lucky beasts to enjoy the first flight were a sheep, a duck and a rooster and the balloon stayed in the air for a grand total of 15 minutes before crashing back to the ground. This was the year 1783 (September 19th) and the person who attempted this was Pilatre De Rozier, a scientist. Approximately two months later (21st November), French brothers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier attempted the first manned flight. They were not much more successful than the animals, managing to stay in air for a total of 20 minutes.

The first serious, long distance flight came just two years later when in 1785 a French balloonist, Jean Pierre Blanchard, and his American co pilot, John Jefferies, became the first to fly across the English Channel. The above events paved the way for balloons to be used widely in the world. Although it never became a popular or widespread method of air travel, man’s fascination with these marvels that seem to be suspended in air on their own has continued unabated. Grown men seem to have the same feeling towards a hot air balloon as kids have towards their helium balloons.

Pioneering flights

• The Atlantic was crossed in a hot air balloon in the year 1978 when the Double Eagle II became the first balloon to do so. The passengers on board (or in basket) were Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman.

• The Pacific was first crossed in 1981 using the Double Eagle V using a helium balloon. The first Pacific crossing using a hot air balloon was done in 1987 by the team of Richard Branson and Per Lindstrand.

To experience what these pioneers and others after them have experienced, we invite you for a trip in the skies. With hot air balloon rides over Sydney and the Hunter Valley. To know more about the packages available and booking, please visit www.cloud9balloons.com.au.

About the Author

Doug Taylor has been an extreme sports enthusiast since his college days. He loves going into the air, whether in an aeroplane, a glider or in a hot air balloon. He has also studied the history and evolution of hot air ballooning and likes to share his knowledge over the internet through his articles.

How secure is hot air balloon?

I take my husband hot air balloon, but has a problem with heights. I have to do something adventure. Unless there is nothing anyone can do to suggest that our heart beats faster, but the air balloon ride sounds great.

I used to have difficulty with heights, and a balloon trip was no problem. I do not know how to explain it, but it is not the same as watching from the roof of a building, or the edge of a bridge. In regard to security, is probably one of the surest ways to get in the air. The only think that can go wrong, if the weather is good, is perhaps running out of fuel. Then float gently to Earth. Perhaps power lines could fall in the way, but it would be very difficult to do. Most balloon flights in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure you'll have fun.