Hot air balloon over Auburn, Washington
© Taliesin Black-Brown and Ben Cowan/Nimia
Hot air balloon over Auburn, Washington
Really, there’s only one way to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day properly. But if you can’t catch a ride in a basket under a giant balloon today, know that the idea dates back at least to 3rd-century China, where paper lanterns were used as military signals. Fast forward to 18th-century France, where two paper-making brothers, the Montgolfiers, launched unmanned hot air balloons. Then, to great fanfare, they tried sending up a sheep, duck, and chicken, and finally, Étienne Montgolfier took a ride. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.
The Hughes H-4 Hercules, aka the Spruce Goose, November 1947, Long Beach Harbor, California
Hot air balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Solar Impulse 2 flying over the pyramids in Giza, Egypt
Happy hot air balloon
US Air Force Thunderbirds perform over Hampton, Virginia
NASA astronaut works on the International Space Station during a spacewalk in 2006
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta runs until October 14
Paratroopers fill the skies over Fort Bragg in North Carolina, for Operation Toy Drop
