British adventurer becomes the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hydrogen gas balloon
A British adventurer has become the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hydrogen gas balloon.
It took Alicia Hempleman-Adams, 36, from Bath, Somerset, four days to make the unprecedented transition.
The balloon, named Atlantic Explorer, launched from Presque Isle, Maine, in the US, around 2 a.m. on June 4 after high winds caused delays.
It used hydrogen instead of helium for lift and had an open basket; This exposed its pilots to the weather.
Ms. Hempleman-Adams, along with teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo, landed in Bastendorf, Luxembourg, on the morning of June 7.
During the trip, the three-person crew flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet and required supplemental oxygen to prevent hypoxia.
The trio stayed in the air for a total of 70 hours, covering 5,282 kilometers and reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
In addition to being the closest point to Europe, the launch site was important in the ballooning world as the starting point for Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman’s first transatlantic crossing in 1978.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams, 36, smiles after becoming the first woman to complete a manned transoceanic balloon flight using hydrogen gas as the sole source of lift.
Ms. Hempleman-Adams’s Atlantic Explorer balloon soars above the clouds during its transatlantic crossing
Atlantic Explorer captured falling ballast over Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
After successfully navigating over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in Canada, the group decided to cross the ocean en masse.
After escaping Newfoundland, the only alternative landing site would be the open ocean.
Speaking after arriving in Europe, Ms Hempleman-Adams said: ‘I am incredibly proud that we completed the crossing and arrived safely in Luxembourg.’
He added: ‘There were times when we thought we wouldn’t make it.
‘Flying in the rain caused ice to accumulate on the balloon, making conditions extremely difficult and adding serious hazards to the flight.
‘It was a remarkable team effort to get the balloon safely into the Atlantic and continue on its way.
‘I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to learn so much from two world-class pilots.’
Ms Hempleman-Adams is the daughter of British adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, 69. He had previously completed his Atlantic journey alone, again in an open-basket balloon.
Hempleman-Adams (left) photographed with teammates Bert Padelt (center) and Peter Cuneo (right). The trio needed oxygen support as the balloon was traveling at an average altitude of 14,000 feet.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams and her team are setting off from Presque Isle in Maine, USA, on June 4
Sir David said: ‘I’m incredibly proud of Alicia. ‘I know first-hand how difficult it can be to cross the Atlantic in an open sidecar and to complete it in such challenging conditions is a remarkable achievement.’
Ms Hempleman-Adams and her colleagues were only the second crew to attempt a transatlantic crossing using hydrogen for ascent.
The previous team, Small World, failed to fly over in 1958, and all other flights used helium.
For her courageous achievements, Ms. Hempleman-Adams will be honored by King George III at Windsor Castle in December 2024. He was awarded an OBE by Charles II.
In 2020, she broke the women’s world altitude record in a small hot air balloon, enduring temperatures as low as –30C (–22F).
Mrs. Hempleman-Adams He flew for one hour and 46 minutes in an AX4 hot air balloon in Calgary, Alberta. Canadato reach the record.
