The Great Round-the-World Balloon Race
First Flight Around the World
Firsts in Flight
Soar Together at Air and Space | Family Activities
Firsts in Flight
Soar Together at Air and Space | Family Activities
These celebrate firsts in flight, with the focus on two anniversaries for first flights around the world by the Douglas World Cruiser team over 100 years ago and the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon over 25 years ago.
The first flight around the world by airplanes happened in 1924—100 years ago!
Watch this video to learn more about this trip done by a team of airplanes called the Douglas World Cruiser.
The goal of this flight was to test whether airplanes can be used to fly long distances, across oceans and around the world.
The pilots started on April 6, 1924 and stopped many places to refuel, rest and get more supplies. Their journey ended 175 days later, on September 28, 1924. They won the race against other countries who were trying to be the first to fly airplanes around the world!
Talk about it: What route would you take?
When your family plans for a trip, what do you need to prepare? Talk to your family about it!
This map shows the route that the Douglas World Cruisers took during their journey. Many groups like the U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries worked together to plan where the airplanes would land, refuel and restock their supplies. The start and end points are marked by the black, yellow, and red circle.
Talk about it: What would you pack?
When you spend the night at a friend or family member's house, what do you pack? Why is it nice to choose what you get to bring? If you were taking a longer trip that lasted many days—like the Douglas World Cruiser team—what would you pack?
The pilots and mechanics of the Douglas World Cruisers were only allowed to bring a certain number of things. This is because they didn't want to make the airplane too heavy.
Here are the items they could bring:
- 1 fur-lined flight suit
- 1 pair of fur-lined gloves
- 2 flannel shirts
- 2 pairs of breeches (pants)
- 2 changes of underwear
- 2 pairs of long woolen stockings
- 1 pair of hunting boots
- 1 cap
- handkerchiefs
- 1 waterproof matchbox
- 1 safety razor
- 1 toothbrush
(List taken from Tim Grove's book First Flight Around the World)
Each world flier crew adopted a stuffed spider monkey as a mascot for their airplane. Leigh Wade carried “Maggie” aboard the Boston.
Compare your list with this one. How does it match up with what you'd bring on a long trip? Don't forget your toothbrush!
One thing they did carry with them was Maggie the stuffed toy monkey. She was their mascot for the trip! What would you bring as your mascot?
The first non-stop flight around the world by a balloon happened in 1999—25 years ago!
The Breitling Orbiter 3 was the first balloon to fly non-stop around the world. The pilots on this trip were Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones. They took off from Switzerland on March 1, 1999. Their journey ended 19 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes later on March 21, 1999 when they landed in Egypt.
The balloon used for this flight used a combination of hot air and helium gas to keep it afloat for long distances.
Watch the video below to learn more about the science of hot air balloons.
Video: How do balloons fly?
Activity: Make your own balloon basket craft
On March 21, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Bryan Jones guided Breitling Orbiter 3, the first balloon to fly around the world non-stop, to a safe landing on a desolate stretch of desert in Western Egypt.
The pilots of the Breitling Orbiter 3 rode in a gondola, pictured here on the left. Here you can see the gondola on display at the National Air and Space Museum, with the pilots standing on top. They spent the entire trip inside this gondola!
Can you imagine a balloon ride around the world? How about above your neighborhood?
Up, up, and away: It's Craft Time with Air and Space! Join museum educator Ann Caspari as she demonstrates how to make a pretend hot air balloon from a strawberry basket and then let your toys take a ride to the skies.
Craft Time! is made possible through the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Watch this video of museum educator Ann Caspari and follow along as she shows you how to make your own mini hot air balloon with a basket for your toys!
Materials needed:
- Recycled materials that are a good shape for a hot air balloon basket. You can use fresh fruit baskets, take out food containers, or yogurt cups.
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Pieces of paper
- Optional: a party balloon
Story Time Recommendations
Spotlight Story: Meet Jerrie Mock, the first woman pilot to fly solo around the world
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Geraldine "Jerrie" Mock broke records when she became the first woman to fly solo around the world. She completed this milestone in 29 days, 11 hours and 59 minutes.
She was also the first woman to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
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Jerrie attended Ohio State University for Aeronautical Engineering, becoming one of the first women in the university's history to do so.
After taking time off from her studies to raise her family, Jerrie got back into the cockpit in her own Cessna 180, named “The Spirit of Columbus”, after her home state.
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After much preparation, Jerrie set out her journey on March 19th, 1964. She flew for upwards of 13 hours straight to reach destinations around the world. She stopped in Egypt, the Middle East, and India.
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Jerrie came back home to Ohio on April 17th. On May 4th, nearly a month later, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Mock with the Federal Aviation Agencies’ Gold Medal for Exceptional Service.
Jerrie's achievements inspired many. Professional pilot Shaesta Waiz, who in 2017 set a record for the youngest woman to fly around the globe at that time, credits Jerrie for inspiring her career!
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Think about it!
Jerrie decided to travel on this round-the-globe journey because she wanted to see the world. If you were to plan a trip like this, where would you like to visit? Talk to your family members about it and ask them the same question!
Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
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National Air and Space Museum
6th St. and Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20560
202-633-2214
Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-572-4118
Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm