BALLOON PROJECTS

Airborne Engineering has been involved in several record-breaking balloon projects including Breitling Orbiter 1, Breitling Orbiter 2 and the Cable & Wireless Balloon.

The around-the-world balloon capsules must be capable of flying at altitudes much higher than most conventional aircraft for long periods of time and must carry enough fuel and consumables for up to 3 weeks aloft. The atmosphere in the capsule needs to be artificially maintained using a life support system very similar to that of an apollo capsule. Electrical systems must rely on a combination of battery and solar power. In many respects, the around-the-world capsules are like spacecraft. These projects have given Airborne Engineering unique experience in this area, experience which led on to our work on the QinetiQ-1 balloon.

Breitling Orbiters 1 & 2 and the Cable & Wireless Balloon used an innovative kerosene burner system designed by Andy Elson. Airborne Engineering supplied the fuel pump control systems for the burners. This system evolved into the Airborne Engineering FPC-03 product, as used on the 70,000ft altitude attempt.

Other items of custom instrumentation were built for the around-the-world attempts including telemetry systems and displays for monitoring fuel contents and life support system consumables. Airborne Engineering also carried out much of the electrical design and installation work on these balloons as well as planning the power budgets.

QinetiQ 1 Balloon

QinetiQ 1 was a helium balloon altitude record attempt. As well as providing engineering consultancy services, Airborne Engineering designed and manufactured a wide range of equipment to meet the particularly challenging requirements of the flight. Find out more about this on our QinetiQ 1 page.

Vijaypat Singhania's 70,000ft Hot Air Balloon Altitude Record

Airborne Engineering's fuel pump control product (FPC-03) was used on Vijaypat Singhania's balloon to control an innovative kerosene burner system designed by Andy Elson / The Space Shop Ltd. Airborne Engineering were also involved in electrical installation work on the capsule and in instrumenting high-altitude burner tests.