What can you do with a balloon? If it is really big and made in a special way, you could break records in flying distances! Remember reading Jules Verne's, Around the World in 80 Days? Gas balloons, filled with helium and without burners are a real challenge for anyone who truly wants to soar. The Two Eagles Balloon Team of American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev came together determined to break some records made by gas filled balloons that have been around for a long, long time. Currently, they are on a trans-Pacific flight. (a flight across the Pacific ocean) As we report, the duo is on a flight to create a new world record in distance and duration for gas balloon flights. In January 2015 the Two Eagles balloon crossed 5,260 mile (8,467 km) across the Pacific. They have also spent the maximum time in a gas balloon staying aloft. The earlier maximum was 137 hours, five minutes, and 50, set by the Double Eagle II in 1978. They have already outdone another record set by Double Eagle V in 1981 in distance flown by gas balloons. Is it time for celebrations? Well, the official verdict of whether or not they have created a world record will be out only after all details of the flight have been studied. How exciting! Do you think it is important to win or is it important enough to try or participate? Write your views in the comments below.
