New Mexico’s balloon museum honors the crew that conquered the deadliest flight on Earth

Abruzzo, Anderson, and Newman’s Historic Atlantic Balloon Crossing

For nearly 200 years, the Atlantic Ocean said no to balloonists. Then three men from Albuquerque said yes.

Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman took off from Maine on August 11, 1978, in their helium balloon Double Eagle II. For 137 hours, they lived in a tiny gondola, ate hot dogs and sardines, and slept in shifts.

After one scary drop from 20,000 to 4,000 feet, they made it to France, flying 3,100 miles total. Their trip put Albuquerque on the map as the world’s ballooning hub.

The Anderson-Abruzzo Balloon Museum now tells their tale with a full-sized replica of their historic gondola.

Seven Balloonists Died Trying What These Men Finally Achieved

From 1859 to 1978, seventeen balloon crews tried crossing the Atlantic Ocean. At least seven balloonists died during these attempts.

The challenge mixed rough weather, basic tools, and keeping a balloon flying for thousands of miles. Most crews fought storms, dealt with broken equipment, or crashed into cold ocean waters.

The Atlantic crossing became one of flying’s deadliest unsolved challenges.

Albuquerque Businessmen Nearly Froze to Death in Their First Attempt

Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson, two friends from Albuquerque, launched their balloon Double Eagle from Massachusetts in September 1977. Storms pushed them off course right away.

After fighting bad weather for 66 hours, they ditched their balloon near Iceland in freezing conditions. Abruzzo got severe frostbite and spent months healing.

Both men started planning another try while Abruzzo was still recovering.

The Team Built a Bigger, Better Balloon for Their Second Try

For their 1978 attempt, Abruzzo and Anderson added hang glider maker Larry Newman as their third crew member. Their new balloon, Double Eagle II, stood 112 feet tall with 160,000 cubic feet of helium.

The gondola measured 15 by 7 feet and got the name “The Spirit of Albuquerque.”

The men packed sand bags, tools, emergency supplies, and simple foods like hot dogs and canned sardines.

Thousands Watched as the Silver Giant Rose Into the Night Sky

On August 11, 1978, at 8:42 pm, Double Eagle II took off from Presque Isle, Maine. Crowds watched the huge silver balloon climb into the evening sky.

The three men quickly set up three-hour sleep shifts, making sure someone always watched the tools.

As they drifted eastward over the dark Atlantic, the American coastline vanished, and they faced days of open ocean ahead.

Life in a Flying Box Meant Sardines and Three-Hour Naps

The crew spent days floating over empty ocean with no land or ships in sight. They ate hot dogs and canned sardines while taking turns sleeping in the tight space.

Staying on course took constant attention to changing winds and careful height changes.

They had to be extra careful with their sand ballast, knowing they might need it for problems and would need enough for a safe landing.

The Balloon Dropped 16,000 Feet in Minutes

On August 16, weather suddenly changed, and Double Eagle II began falling fast. The balloon dropped from 20,000 feet down to 4,000 feet in just minutes.

The crew quickly dumped ballast to stop their fall, using up supplies they had carefully saved. They leveled out the balloon but knew they had less room for error.

With less ballast, they had fewer options if they faced more troubles.

Land Appeared After Five Days Over Empty Ocean

On the evening of August 16, the tired crew spotted the coast of Ireland below them. This moment marked the first successful transatlantic balloon crossing.

After five and a half days over water, seeing land brought huge relief to the three men.

They had done what seventeen previous attempts couldn’t do, but still needed to find a safe spot to land with their shrinking ballast supplies.

They Turned Down Landing Where Lindbergh Made History

Running low on ballast, the crew faced a tough choice about where to land.

Officials offered them Le Bourget Airfield near Paris, the same field where Charles Lindbergh landed 51 years earlier after his solo flight across the Atlantic.

This would have made a perfect symbolic landing, but the men knew they lacked enough ballast to make it safely. They looked for the closest safe landing area instead.

French Villagers Rushed to Greet the American Heroes

On August 17, after 137 hours and 3,100 miles, Double Eagle II came down in a barley field near Miserey, France. The gondola landed safely as word of their success spread.

Thousands of French citizens hurried to the landing site to welcome the Americans.

The three tired men climbed out of their cramped gondola after nearly six days in the air, finally stepping on solid ground as the first people to cross the Atlantic by balloon.

Both Abruzzo and Anderson Died in Later Aviation Accidents

Congress gave the crew the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979 for their amazing achievement.

Sadly, on June 27, 1983, Maxie Anderson died in a ballooning accident in West Germany when explosive bolts misfired during landing.

Then on February 11, 1985, Ben Abruzzo died when his Cessna 421 crashed near Albuquerque.

Both men lost their lives while pursuing their love of flying, leaving Larry Newman as the only surviving member of the historic crew.

A World-Class Museum Celebrates Albuquerque’s Ballooning Heroes

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum opened in 2005 at Balloon Fiesta Park. Visitors can see the actual Double Eagle II gondola and learn about the historic flight that changed aviation history.

Albuquerque became known as the world’s ballooning capital, hosting the International Balloon Fiesta each October.

The 1978 crossing stands as one of aviation’s greatest achievements and firmly established Albuquerque’s special place in ballooning history.

Visiting Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE honors three local balloonists who made the first transatlantic balloon crossing in 1978.

Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman flew Double Eagle II from Maine to France after 14 failed attempts killed seven people over 200 years.

The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm with $6 admission for adults. You can try the balloon flight simulator and interactive exhibits.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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