First Around the World Hot Air Balloon Trip

 Events
Mar 212024
 
Breitling Orbiter 3

Breitling Orbiter 3

Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in 1999 became the first people to circle the earth in a hot air balloon. Their 26,000-mile trip took 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes. Their trip started in Switzerland and ended in Egypt. The gondola looks like a gigantic red pill, and solar panels provided power for GPS and communication. Children can see a photo of the gondola and read more at: Hot Air Balloon.

Solar Impulse Completed Its Circumnavigation of Earth in 2016

 Events
Jul 232024
 

Solar Impulse completed its circumnavigation of earth in 2016. Using only solar energy, the Swiss airplane started its flight from Abu Dhabi, United Emirates, on March 9, 2015. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the co-founders, wanted to show that flight was possible using only solar energy. Children could learn more at: Solar Impulse.