Hot air balloon over Auburn, Washington, USA
© Taliesin Black-Brown and Ben Cowan/Nimia
Hot air balloon over Auburn, Washington, USA
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 rooster, and finally, Etienne Montgolfier took a ride himself. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.
Hot air balloons in Cappadocia, Türkiye
Red Arrows
2021 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England
Balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, USA
Hot air balloons above Bristol city centre, England
Hot air balloon with a smile
Nasa astronaut works on the International Space Station during a spacewalk in 2006
Rainbow balloons for Pride Month
