Born on August 17
First Balloon Across the Atlantic
Three friends, one balloon, an ocean.
Next: August 17, 2027
Where it comes from
This Story marks 17 August 1978, when the helium balloon Double Eagle II came down in a wheat field near Miserey in France, about 60 miles north-west of Paris, completing the first balloon crossing of the Atlantic.
How it's celebrated
There is no formal observance, but the flight is remembered by balloonists and aviation museums. The crew's gondola, The Spirit of Albuquerque, is on display at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Did you know
Officially the crossing was achieved at 10.02 pm on 16 August, when the balloon passed over the coast of Ireland.
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