10 hot air balloon world records

25th November 2015 Jo Bailey Hot Air Balloon Records

Riding in a hot air balloon is a fun and exciting way to fly. The first hot air balloon flight was in 1783 by the Frenchman Francois Pilatre de Rozier. Since that first flight, there have been many hot air balloon world records. Here are ten of them:

1. Largest mass ascent

The largest number of hot air balloons to take off at once was 433. This took place on July 31st 2013 in France at the Lorraine Mondial Air Balloon gathering.

2. The oldest person to fly in a hot air balloon

Emma Carol was 109 years old when she flew for an hour in a hot air balloon in 1895. Her record still stands.

3. The first people to cross the Atlantic in a balloon

Richard Branson and Per Lindstrand were the first people to fly across the Atlantic in a balloon. They flew from Sugarloaf, Maine, USA to Limavady in Northern Ireland in 1987. The 3,075-mile journey took 31 hours and 41 minutes.

4. First person to circumnavigate the world in a balloon

Steve Fosett set off from Western Australia in 2002 and landed in Queensland, Australia 13 days and 12 hours later to be the first person to fly around the world in a hot air balloon.

5. First balloon flight over South Pole

In January 2000, Ivan Andre Trifonov from Austria piloted a balloon over the South Pole at an altitude of 15,000 ft.

6. Highest balloon flight

The highest man has flown in a hot air balloon is 68,986 feet which was achieved by Dr Vijaypat Singhania who flew over Mumbai in India in November 2005.

7. World’s highest bungee jump

In 2002, a hot air balloon lifted British man, Curtis Rivers, to a height on 15,200 feet. From there, he launched himself with a 98 feet bungee cord attached to the balloon. He bounced five times then parachuted back to the ground.

8. World’s largest passenger hot air balloon

In 2014, a giant hot air balloon was manufactured by Cameron Balloons of Bristol. It carried 32 passengers to claim the world record for the largest certified passenger carrying balloon.

9. World’s most expensive hot air balloon flight

The ultimate balloon flight is over Everest, the world’s highest mountain. The website ifonly.com is advertising this trip of a lifetime for £5,215,000 for two people. Although the flight takes under a day, it may take several weeks of waiting in Nepal for the right weather conditions.

Simply having the money does not guarantee a place. All intending passengers must undergo a mental and physical test and spend about a month on physical and skill training before the expedition.

No money will be returned if the attempt to fly over Everest is unsuccessful.

10. The most hot air balloons to fly the English channel

In 2011, 49 balloons crossed from Dover to Calais across the English Channel. Originally, 50 balloons set off, but one had to land before Calais when it got into difficulties.