From Gstaadt beautiful toristic place a village center with a mostly car-free zone since 1998, to Château-d'Oex village by car in about 20 minutes, you can reach the place where on March 1, 1999, Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard started the first non-stop balloon flight around the world.
Three experiments were necessary fotr this record. The capsule Breitling Orbiter is displayed in the heart of the village and can be admired in front of the Espace Ballon, was used for the first attempt in 1997 and thus contributed somewhat to this success. Near there the Balloon Museum, open throughout the year, shows the hot air balloon adventure in all its forms.
The original cabin is now in the Air and Space Museum in Washington.
This amazing performance was performed aboard the Breitling Orbiter 3, a combination hot air and gas balloon. After a distance of about 45,755 km was flying crossed Asia, the Pacific, Central America and the Atlantic, they are landed in the Egyptian desert on March 21, 1999. They had not only succeeded their goal, they had also realized the longest flight in aviation history, in both duration and distance, and set a total of seven world records.
Through a circular window you can also take a look inside the capsule to see how they have lived during the flight,surely from high up a fantastic view of the earth, as well as much more you can be seen in the exhibition next to.
Have a Great day!