At the recently concluded Mexico Hot Air Balloon Festival, 9-year-old American boy Bobby Bradley piloted an ultralight hot air balloon for about 26 minutes,
and landed safely, setting a new record for the youngest person to fly a solo hot air balloon.
Humans are born without wings, yet their longing for the skies never ceases. In December 1903, the Wright brothers successfully tested their "Flyer I," but if we’re talking about the earliest manned flight in human history, that milestone goes back even further—120 years earlier. In 1783, French brothers Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier created the first prototype of a hot air balloon and carried passengers on a 25-minute flight over Paris. That moment marked humanity’s first brush with the edge of this dream.
Records know no limits. Just five months ago, 9-year-old American boy Bobby Bradley broke the record for the youngest person to fly a solo hot air balloon—he piloted an ultralight hot air balloon for about 26 minutes and landed safely.
The adventure began in a desert area near the town of Toms in New Mexico. On the morning of June 4th local time, under the witness of his father Troy, mother Tammy, and about 50 family and friends, the little boy took to the skies in the hot air balloon. “I’ve always wanted to fly solo, and I spent a lot of time preparing and practicing, so I wasn’t nervous at all when it was finally time to take off.” After landing, Bobby Bradley, who had fulfilled his long-held wish, happily hugged his parents.
Like many other sports, hot air ballooning initially took center stage in much more serious and significant settings. During the Franco-Prussian War in the 19th century, the French used this “new weapon” for military communication and reconnaissance. Later, as the smoke of war cleared, European nobility bought this novel toy from struggling scientists. To some extent, the hot air balloon became a status symbol for them. As time went on and the influence of the nobility waned, emerging tycoons took up the privilege.
By harnessing the principle of heated air expansion to lift the balloon, it allowed wingless humans to get closer to the sky... And yet, from the very beginning of its invention, the hot air balloon seemed to carry an air of elitism. But with improved materials and craftsmanship, modern hot air ballooning has shed much of its once-exclusive image. As long as weather conditions are favorable, this aerial sport can be enjoyed by enthusiasts.
The International Aeronautical Federation once conducted a survey on the safety ratings of all flying devices, and the results placed the hot air balloon at the top in terms of safety. Currently, there are about 20,000 hot air balloons worldwide, and in the well-established ballooning regions of Europe and America, various competitions or events are held almost daily.
It’s not a stunt — it’s Bobby’s dream
Although Bobby’s parents were confident in their son, the rewriting of the youngest solo balloon flight record still drew concerns and skepticism from some. A negative example is the “Balloon Boy” Falcon Heene from two years ago.
In 2009, a couple living in Colorado reported that their 6-year-old son Falcon had climbed into a hot air balloon and flown away. When authorities responded, the balloon in question was traveling at about 40 km/h at several thousand meters above the Colorado plains. After sending professionals to force the balloon to land, the police found no sign of the reported missing child. Eventually, someone reported finding the boy in the attic of the Heene family garage. Some speculated it was a publicity stunt staged by the Heenes.
Reflecting on the past and comparing it to the present, some have started to question the motives of the Bradley family. “Believe me, I’m a mother. If I thought flying wasn’t safe, I would never let him go up,” said Bobby’s mother Tammy. “Hot air ballooning is in his blood. He’s been hearing stories about balloons since he was little—it’s fair to say he’s been ‘living’ in a hot air balloon since birth,” added his father Troy.
Is it too risky for a 9-year-old boy to fly solo? Bobby’s father Troy doesn’t think so. Troy is the current president of the Balloon Federation of America. He completed his first solo flight at age 14 and obtained his hot air balloon pilot license at 16. Troy once partnered with Abruzzo to achieve the first ever manned hot air balloon flight from North America to Africa in history, and he has won nearly 60 world records. Now, the “Bradley” name is practically synonymous with prestige in the ballooning world. In 1998, Troy and his wife Tammy won the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Challenge, and now it seems their young son Bobby is continuing the family legacy.
Of course, the skilled and daring Troy is confident in letting his son take the leap, but according to U.S. law, adult supervision is mandatory. When Bobby’s ultralight hot air balloon took off, three other balloons also ascended from the same launch site. Among the escorts was Raymond Beall, a designated FAA hot air balloon exam examiner in New Mexico.
On the day Bobby completed his flight, the weather was excellent. From takeoff to landing, the young aviator flew for about 26 minutes before touching down safely at the intended landing site. Bobby said, “I think I could have flown longer. It ended a bit too soon, but that’s okay—I’ll get another chance.”