In any discussion of the important moments in the history of air and space, we can't forget one of the oldest human-carrying flight technologies: balloons. Join curator Tom Crouch as he discusses the Museum's balloons involved in the record-setting feats: Breitling Orbiter III, the first balloon to fly around the world non-stop; Red Bull Stratos, from which Felix Baumgartner made his record-setting jump from an altitude of over 127,000 feet; and the cabin in which aeronaut Julian Nott set a new altitude record for hot air balloon.
Meet at the nose of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird in the Boeing Aviation Hangar.
About the Ask an Expert Series: Several times a month at 12:30 pm at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a Museum staff member talks to the public about the history, collection, or individuals related to a specific artifact or exhibition in the Museum. For upcoming dates of the Udvar-Hazy Center Ask an Expert lecture series, click here.