Smoke Balloons in 3D

Smoke Balloons are a special, now rare, form of Hot Air balloon. The original Montgolfier Balloon could be described as a smoke balloon (although unlike the more recent ones it carried a brazier). The fairly porous balloon is inflated slowly with smokey hot air (which eventually blocks many of the pores), and whisks the pilot up on a harness to around 2000'. The pilot descends by parachute while the balloon inverts, belches out its air, and streams to the ground (often before the pilot).

Smoke Ballooning used to be a traditional July 4th activity. It is impressive and hazardous.

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	'A Balloon Ascension 1900' Dawson City, Yukon Territory. Photographed by William H. Rau.
	'Balloon Ascension,Ontario Beach,N.Y.' September 1859. There is good information about this ascent at: http://www.griffingweb.com/our_dear_ones_have_gone.htm including eyewitness accounts. The balloon 'Comet' was flown by a Mr Brooks.
	The Fair Grounds, Rockford , Illinois, 1870 Thanks!!
	Photographed by Norman A. Forsyth of Butte, Montana, circa 1905. Columbia Exhibition

This page was last updated on 27-Sep-2005.

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