around the world

As great an event as this balloon flight is I can't help but wonder if aviation took a giant leap backwards. We put a man on the moon in 69.Aviation history is out of sinc and i don't think balloon travel will ever replace airplanes.

let me hear from you

GAB

james a. LAVENDER wrote :

To achieve an old dream is never a leap backwards.

The aim of ballooning is not to replace airplanes travels. It can be for the sake of sport, competition, dream or any other reason (runners keep on running New York Marathon although they could grab a yellow cab to cross the city...)

BTW, high technology has been used in this expedition, especially by the meteorologists, could be useful even for 'airplanes' aviation...

I do agree with your first statement on Breitling Orbiter 3: this is a great event!

Best Regards and keep on dreaming.

Think about challenge.

Also, 30 years ago it was probably easier to send a man on the moon than to fly around the world with a balloon. Not neccessarily for technical reasons only (no GPS, no meteo and communication satellites, etc.) but also for simple political reasons (flying over China? Are you crazy?!?).

JM

I thought it would be interesting to inform you that even NASA is interested in this concept. Nobody had done it before. This is very High-tech material. NASA cooperated in another team and didn't succeed... So it's no step back, it's a big step forward for all aviation.

I'll put detailed pictures from the balloon and gondola on the web next week. That way you can have a look inside the BO3.

Of course balloons will never replace airplanes. Cars haven't replaced the bikes, have they ?

Don't be too sure. Dirigibles can carry more then a 747-400 F if they are made with new high tech materials. Travel around the world non stop and land or at least load and unload in places you could never land a jet. As others have pointed out NASA is interested in these and their technology. On Mars and Titan for example. What other craft could operate in Jupiter's or Venus's atmosphere? Long term balloon flight is a must there. landing is rough on the instruments