How does fire make tea bags fly? 🔥☕️
Alex Dainis demonstrates how lighting a tea bag causes the air inside to heat up, expand, and rush out. Just fold open a few empty tea bags into tubes on a baking sheet, then light the top with an adult and a fire extinguisher handy. The now-less-dense air inside sends the bag rocketing upward, similar to how a hot air balloon works, except this one's a one way trip once it burns.
On This Day, August 17, 1978, three American adventurers made history by completing the first successful nonstop transatlantic balloon flight.
Their balloon, Double Eagle II, departed from Presque Isle, Maine, on August 11.
Inside the giant helium-filled balloon were Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman.
For nearly six days, they drifted across the Atlantic Ocean, battling freezing temperatures, changing winds, and the constant challenge of staying airborne.
After approximately 137 hours and 6 minutes in flight, Double Eagle II finally reached Europe.
On August 17, the balloon landed near Miserey, France, completing a journey of approximately 3,120 miles (5,020 km).
The three men had achieved something that had defeated numerous previous attempts: crossing the Atlantic Ocean nonstop by balloon.
Their historic journey earned them the Harmon Trophy, one of aviation's most prestigious honors.
3 men
1 giant balloon
137+ hours in the air
Across the Atlantic Ocean
They crossed an ocean… in a balloon.
The Calgary Balloon Club is celebrating our 50th anniversary this year.
On top of all of our normal flying we have attended a couple of events, trade shows and airshows to show off the sport and have had special 50th anniversary swag made for our pilots and crew. We are capping the year off with a 50th anniversary banquet and we hope to have lots of current members, former members and ballooning community friends there.
My first hot air balloon festival in Stowe Vermont.
I know they might be interesting if you’ve never been around balloons before, but we hate them
One of my favorite views of Cappadocia.
Balloon flights take place around sunrise, and seeing the valleys and fairy chimneys from above is completely different from seeing them from the ground.
If anyone is planning a trip to Cappadocia and has questions about balloon flights, weather cancellations, basket sizes or the different flight areas, feel free to ask. Happy to share some local information.
I got this lovely photo as one flew directly above me yesterday in Bristol