1
$\begingroup$

I want my world to have balloons that can fly at least 6,000 feet high. However, I’m not sure that my world’s level of technology would be able to make such a thing feasible. So, what materials, construction techniques, and technologies would be needed to make a hot air balloon that can fly at such high altitudes?

Specifications

  • Must be able to sustain an altitude of 6,000 ft for one hour or longer
  • Must be able to carry the weight of one person and some surveying/astronomy equipment (200 lbs or so total)
  • No magic

For this question, don’t worry about the survival of the passengers. Furthermore, if possible, I would like for the answer to include the approximate point in our history where we could theoretically build a hot air balloon that could fly to 6,000 feet or higher

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ IIRC Montgolfier balloon could reach that high, probably not right away. And essentially you just need an onboard hot air source that doesn't ruin the balloon; just light a bonfire out of the payload with an iron net in the chimney to not let sparks inside, and that's pretty much all. $\endgroup$
    – Vesper
    Commented Jul 4 at 14:07
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ My first reading of the subject was a request for a balloon envelope that had height of one mile. That is a balloon itself being over mile tall. $\endgroup$
    – Gault Drakkor
    Commented Jul 4 at 17:56

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6
$\begingroup$

Vijaypat Singhania holds the world record for highest flight by a hot air balloon. It was 21km (~69000 feet). It is eleven times more than what you need.

More information about the balloon he used can be found here.

Lifted from comment:

Apparently first hot air balloon flight exceeding the requirements happened already in 1784 by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier. He reached 3km (~9800 feet).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ Sure, but when did the first balloon exceed 2000 meters above ground level? $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Jul 4 at 14:24
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ @JonCusterIf I got it right (ie. the balloon was really a hot air balloon), it was in 1784 by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier. He reached 3km (~9800 feet). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Pil%C3%A2tre_de_Rozier $\endgroup$
    – Jani Miettinen
    Commented Jul 4 at 14:43
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You should edit that in to your answer! Nice find. $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Jul 4 at 14:49

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .