Gallup, New Mexico
December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2022
Ballooning
A HISTORY OF BALLOONING
While the concept of hot air ballooning goes back thousands of years, physically putting a hot air balloon into the air didn't happen until the late 1700's… 1783 to be exact. The Montgolfier Brothers (Jacques-Étienne and Joseph-Michel) initially sent a sheep, a chicken, and a duck up into the air successfully. Following their initial flight triumph, they decided to send up two men up for about 20 minutes! The selected men were Pilatre de Rozier & Marquis François d'Arlandes, who were not condemned criminals as King Louis XVI had originally wanted. In fact, Pilatre de Rozier, known as the world's first balloonist, had to petition the King to be on the first manned hot air balloon flight.
After manned hot air balloon flights were made successful, next in the evolution of balloons came the first manned hydrogen balloon flight by Jacques Charles with Nicolas-Louis Robert on December 1, 1783, making it up to 3,000 meters high!
Flying across the English Channel was the next significant milestone in ballooning, a feat Jean-Pierre Blanchard accomplished on January 7, 1785.
The first manned balloon flight in America was on January 10, 1793 by Jean-Pierre Blanchard using a hydrogen filled balloon. President George Washington was in attendance as the balloon took off.
A 1818 technical illustration shows early balloon designs.
Montgolfier brothers flight by Unknown - Bildarchiv Preussuscher Kulturbesitz, Berlin.
Throughout the 19th & 20th centuries, balloons served in the military and were utilized for scientific research purposes throughout the world.
With the arrival of the airship (also known as a blimp or dirigible), the hot air balloon lost its place in air flight, as the dirigible was actually maneuverable and able to carry more people.
Then, in the 1950's, modern hot air ballooning was born as the Navy commissioned Ed Yost to see how hot air balloons could be used in the military and for scientific applications. They eventually abandoned the project, but Ed Yost envisioned the possibility of civilian uses for hot air balloons.
On October 22, 1960 Paul E. (Ed) Yost piloted the maiden flight of a new type of hot balloon and the modern era of hot air ballooning was born!
Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.
Some Numbers About Ballooning
433 - Hot Air Balloons Set a New World Record for Simultaneous Flight in France!
1783 - First Manned Free Hot Air Balloon, The Montgolfier Brothers on November 21, 1783
1960 - The modern Era of Hot Air Ballooning begin! Thanks to Ed Yost.
21000 - World Record for the Height a Hot Air Balloons has Flown. Over 21,000 Metres! (68,900 Feet)
4 PRINCIPLES OF HOT AIR BALLOONING
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Hot Air Is Lighter Than Cool Air. Hot Air Rises.
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A Cubic Ft Of Air Weighs 28 Grams (1 Ounce).
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A Cubic Ft Of Hot Air (Heighten By 100 Degrees) Weighs 7 Grams.
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65,000 Cubic Ft Of Hot Air Can Lift 1000Lbs.
OUR SPONSORS
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About
This year marks the 41st anniversary of the Red Rock Balloon Rally. What began as a small but earnest effort by four individuals to share the unique flying challenge offered in the incredible red rock formations east of Gallup, New Mexico has grown into one of the largest ballooning events in the world.
THE WEATHER
Red Rock Balloon Rally Association
The Red Rock Balloon Rally Association, which hosts the balloon rally, has been uplifting the Gallup community since 1981, partnering with many non-profit groups and contributing tens of thousands of dollars to their fund raising efforts. The Association is run by an all volunteer committee and has never had a paid staff which speaks loudly to the dedication of its members.
CONTACT INFO
- Address: Red Rock Balloon Rally P.O. Box 2621 Gallup, NM 87305
- Phone: 1-800-380-4989
- Mail: info@redrockballoonrally.com