Braving The Atlantic by Balloon

The National Geographic Magazine  Vol. CXVI, No.1. July 1959.  A 25 page article about the attempted  east-west Atantic Crossing by a balloon names ‘The Small World’.

In 1958 the Atlantic Ocean had yet to be conquered by balloon so it was big news when four people set out from a beach in Tenerife to attempt an ambitious 3,600 miles east-west crossing to South America.

After three years planning it was skipper Arnold “Bushy” Eiloart who learned to fly a gas balloon with Gerry Long when there were no licenced pilots in Britain and it was only after a good meeting with his MP and the Ministry of Civil Aviation that he was advised to interpret the law ‘loosely’ about flying under an instructor.

The other three occupants were Colin and Rosemary Mudie ( of yacht design fame) and Bushy’s son Tim who would be radio operator and meteorologist.

The boat/gondola was designed and built by Colin Mudie and had an impressive list of equipment.

See story here.

Their book is in our library.