What started as a childhood dream for a Pennsylvania man became a historic balloon launch in Presque Isle on Wednesday night. At about 10 p.m., a multinational team of pilots lifted off in the Torabhaig International Explorer, aiming to fly the first open-basket hydrogen balloon across the Atlantic.
It’s the second attempt for balloon builder Bert Padelt of Bally, Pennsylvania, who is joined by fellow balloonists David Cuneo of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Alicia Hempleman-Adams of Britain. The first attempt was last June, but weather challenges caused an early landing in Canada. The pilots and crew have been in Presque Isle since mid-May awaiting favorable conditions for takeoff, and Wednesday night proved ideal.
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