Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) records show that Iranian Frederick Eshoo made a solar flight in a balloon called Sunstat in 1978 using the 1977 patented standard design. The balloon had clear plastic on one side, allowing the sun's radiation to reflect off the inner surface, thus heating the air. By using solar energy, Eshoo applied the force known as the Archimedes' principle by raising the temperature inside the ‘envelope’, making it less dense than the surrounding ambient air allowing buoyant force, or lift. Balloons are today, still trying to improve Eshoo’s original technology.
US Patent Number: 4,174,082
Invention: Solar Powered Hot Air Balloon
Inventor: Frederick Eshoo
Year: 1979
Material: Ink on Japanese museum-quality archival paper. Thickness of paper: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm). Weight of paper: 5.57 oz/yd² (189 g/m²)
- All Hatton® Press Originals measure 24"(W) x 36"(H)
- Safely packaged for shipping
- Comes with our natural wood grain frame, including pre-attached sawtooth hangers for vertical wall hanging*
- Made in the United States
*Frame is included but may be sent separately due to safety and handling
