Richard Branson And Hot Air Balloon

The compulsion to fly high in the distant skies was realized in Paris by two French pilots on the 21^st of November 1783, when they ascended 3,000 feet in a balloon created by the Montgolfier brothers. Impressively, it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the first manned hot air balloon flight in the history of humankind, which lasted 25 minutes over 9 km. That day marks the beginning of the first chapter of aeronautical history and aviation industry. But the ardent love for hot air ballooning as a hobby only began in the 20^th century. Towards the 1980s, the media started associating the famous English industrialist Sir Richard Branson with hot air balloon. It was at the time when business at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Records were booming that he embarked on a journey less trodden pursuing challenges of an engineering and physical nature.

Crossing Pacific Ocean

After many years of intense training to be a hot air balloon pilot, Richard Branson went through a harrowing experience during the tail end of the trans-Atlantic ballooning in his pursuit to break the world record. It was an unforgettable ordeal that he swore off, but the bug hit him again almost immediately after that. Despite the messy balloon flight that would have cost him his dear life, he refused to budge. After arriving home from the hospital, Branson’s restless thoughts soon turned to other conquerable adventures.

After arriving home from the hospital, Branson’s restless thoughts soon turned to other conquerable adventures Source Credit: Britannica

The great crew of Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson paired up again to cross the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon. In 1991, they traveled from Japan to Canada at a speed of 245 mph covering a distance of 6,700 miles. The pair broke the world record the second time when they became the first to cross the Pacific Ocean using a hot air balloon. The daring balloonists broke this remarkable world distance record for cruising the Pacific Ocean in 47 hours. Four years after that, Steve Fossett became the first person to complete the Transpacific hot air balloon route by himself, traveling for 4 days from Korea to Canada.

Hazardous but lucky

Branson made four more attempts over the next 7 years at achieving the most challenging ballooning ever. However, every single time he failed miserably but in spectacular style surrounded by the public. The trip with the American millionaire Steve Fossett and Lindstrand was an unmitigated disaster. In their unrelenting eagerness to beat the distance records, they fell out of the jet stream and landed in Hawaii. It was by a sheer miracle that they found their way and flew across to the Canadian Arctic, the final destination. The world-famous aviators were indeed lucky to have bolted with their precious lives. Ultimately, the group broke the world records for balloon flight speed, distance, and duration.

Meeting peculiar accidents

At one time Richard Branson, Steve Fossett, and Per Lindstrand crash-landed in the Sahara. A warlord in Algeria took them as hostages, which Branson described was a luxurious kidnapping. Another occasion found the expedition team accidentally crossing the Himalayan mountains near the Chinese border. As they came out of the other side, they encountered shooting threats from the Chinese Air Force. It took a few frantic calls on a state level from Branson’s secretary to sort out that debacle. This time Richard Branson was fortunate enough to have escaped from it against all probabilities. It was by far his luckiest outcome out of all the other treacherous expeditions ventured out until then.

Brand publicity stunts

Branson’s numerous adventures have raised the brand recognition and profile of the Virgin Group. The business tycoon recognizes it too that his boating, ballooning and other world records have made Virgin a global brand. These scenes and others illustrate Branson’s drive to do things humans have never done and participated in before. It is always virtuous to muster courage in death and failure to implement new inspiring ideas. That kind of swagger in itself is positive that never fails to bring a fresh zest to the purpose of life. But Richard Branson being him, likes to take chances neglecting to take the necessary steps to mitigate potential risks. Hence, the media and the press have criticized these extreme bravados as mere publicity stunts. He denied that he did them for any reason other than pure curiosity and joy at the challenge.

British multi-millionaire Richard Branson points at other hot air balloons flying over the city of Marrakesh January 18. Branson plans to do a round-the-world trip in the Virgin Global Challenger along with Swedish Per Lindstrand and Rory McCarthy. The balloon’s cabin will be sealed and pressurised to enable the crew to drift in the jet-stream at an altitude of 10.000 meters Source Credit: Business Insider

Boldly moving on

With two ballooning firsts across the earth’s oceans, breaking the record in circumnavigating the world in a hot air balloon became Branson’s next shiny passion for pursuing. But he gave up this pursuit because Bertrand Piccard and the British balloonist Brian Jones took the honours in March of 1999. Sir Richard Branson has set world records so far not only in ballooning but also in three other modes of transport. They are boating, kite surfing, and amphibious vehicle, each one of its kinds in their ways. For Branson, not all of his adventures are equal as each time was a different experience.

Challenger Disaster Source Credit: National Geographic

Spacing it out

The CEO of the company who owns an international airline also plans to head into space. But astronauts spend years in training before being considered for a space mission. They are run through every piece of equipment and memorize every contingency plan. They have a complete knowledge of what they can do to keep safe should problems arise and how their spacecraft works. The tragedy of 1986 shows that spaceflight cannot be rushed for the sake of excitement because the consequences can be fatal. So, there is way too much work to attend to for Branson before he makes it there and conquers the other world.

The fascination with hot air balloons continues, even without the publicity by the likes of Lindstrand and Branson in their constant chase of world records. Soaring in the heavens at extreme heights and going where the wind blows has never been so appealing.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Richard Branson And Hot Air Balloon

What is the association between Richard Branson and hot air balloon?

Richard Branson is known for his interest and involvement in hot air ballooning. In 1987, he attempted to make the first-ever transatlantic hot air balloon crossing with Per Lindstrand, a Swedish aeronautical engineer. Although the attempt failed due to technical difficulties, Branson and Lindstrand later went on to break several world records with their hot air balloons, including the first hot air balloon to cross the Pacific Ocean and the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Branson has also used hot air balloons in his marketing campaigns for Virgin, his multinational conglomerate, and has continued to support the development of balloon technology through his various ventures.

What happened when Richard Branson tried to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon?

In the year 1987, Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson attempted to traverse the Atlantic ocean. They were traveling in Virgin Atlantic flyer, the name given to their hot air balloon. The journey started from Maine in Sugarloaf mountain on the 6^th of September 1987. The balloon crisscrossed for 34 hours covering 2,900 miles. However, due to headwinds, it crashed off-coast in the sea of Scotland, about 190 miles before their intended destination. Despite that, it was still a major achievement because it was the longest distance traveled and nobody had ever attempted to cross the Atlantic ocean in a hot air balloon. A few years after that, another team broke the record. However, the attempt made by Branson helped to popularise ballooning as an exploration and adventure and cemented his popularity as an entrepreneur.

What happened when Richard Branson tried to cross the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon?

Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson set a record of traversing the Pacific ocean in a hot air balloon in the year 1991. It began on the 15^th of January in Japan and ended on the 17^thof January in Canada, covering 6,500 miles. Virgin Pacific Flyer was the name given for the hot air balloon. It was made from lightweight materials. Propane gas powered the engine. The trip in this hot air balloon was fraught with many challenges, including navigation difficulties and a balloon leak. However, Lindstrand and Branson ultimately succeeded, breaking many records. The achievement cemented his reputation and has inspired many to push the envelope when it comes to innovation and exploration.

What is the connection between the brand Virgin and hot air balloon?

Hot air balloon has an association with Virgin, which is traced back to the early adventures of Richard Branson in ballooning. In the year 1987, he tried to cross the Atlantic in it, and although it failed, a lot of publicity was garnered and established his reputation. After that, Branson and the brand Virgin used balloons as an icon of innovation, exploration, and adventure and incorporated them into marketing and branding campaigns. In addition, Virgin sponsored several balloon flights. This includes the debut balloon, Breitling Orbiter 3, to circumnavigate the world without stopping. Virgin company has used balloons for its promotional and advertising activities. Today, Virgin balloon flights offers rides to people. The association between hot air balloons and Virgin represents the commitment to exploration and innovation, pushing the boundaries.

What is Virgin ballon flights?

Virgin balloon flights, part of the Virgin parent company, offers balloon flights for groups and individuals in various locations. The company provides a unique and memorable experience, offering packages that includes sunset and sunrise flights group flights, and champagne flights. During the hour long flights, passengers take in the views of the countryside from the basket of the balloon. Upon landing, they are treated to a glass of champagne and are given a certificate in memory of the flight. It also offers vouchers that can be bought as presents for family and friends. These gift vouchers can be redeemed anytime within a year in any of the flight packages. Virgin balloon flights considers safety a top priority and employs qualified and experienced pilots to operate the flights. Postponements and cancellations may occur as they are subject to the climate and weather.

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