- This event has passed.
On this day – 1st Transatlantic Balloon Trip
August 17, 2022
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every year that begins at 12:00 am on day 17 of August, repeating indefinitely
On August 17, 1978, the first transatlantic balloon trip was completed as three Americans (Max Anderson, Ben Abruzzo, and Larry Newman) landed their helium balloon, Double Eagle II, in France. 🎈🎈🎈
The trip, which began in Maine, took one week to complete and was the first successful attempt after over a dozen tries by other daring balloonists.
Did you know? Unlike balloonists before them, Anderson, Abruzzo, and Newman had a fairly uneventful flight. During their 137 hours in the air, they enjoyed hot dogs and canned sardines. 🌭🌭🌭
A Balloon in Mid-Air, Jules Tavernier, 1875
