First-ever transoceanic flight using hydrogen balloon

The balloon being inflated. PIC COURTESY/Kim Vesely

Three balloonists from the US and Britain have become the first to complete a transatlantic balloon flight using hydrogen gas for onboard lift.

The ‘Atlantic Explorer' safely landed near Bastendorf in Luxembourg at on June 7. The balloon was in the air for 70 hours 11 minutes and traveled 2852 nautical miles.

This was the first transoceanic flight solely using hydrogen gas, it set a world record for distance for its size and type of balloon, and was the first transatlantic crossing by a woman in a straight gas balloon (the second woman to complete a transoceanic crossing in history).

The Atlantic Explorer took flight early on June 4, from Presque Isle, Maine, US, with Bert Padelt (US), Peter Cuneo (US), and Alicia Hempleman-Adams (UK).

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever