Per Lindstrand facts for kids
Per Lindstrand, born on September 8, 1948, is a Swedish engineer, pilot, and adventurer. He is famous for his amazing flights across oceans in hot air balloons. He often flew with the British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. Per also tried to be the first person to fly a special type of balloon called a Rozière balloon around the Earth. He is also the person who started Lindstrand Balloons, a company in England that makes hot air balloons.
Per Lindstrand is not just a balloon pilot; he can fly many other aircraft too! He has licenses to fly airplanes, helicopters, autogyros, airships, and gliders. He has always dreamed of flying a hot air balloon (which needs constant heat) around the world, but this dream has not yet come true. His records for distance, how long he stayed in the air, and how high he flew have made him one of the most famous balloonists and designers of airships in the world.
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Early Life and First Flights
Per Lindstrand's journey into aviation began in the Swedish Air Force. He worked there as an Engineering Officer. His very first balloon flight happened in the early 1970s because of a bet! He built a simple balloon and successfully flew it across a runway while in the Air Force. This win showed his early talent for flight. When he flew military aircraft, his call sign was "Polar Per."
Later, Per earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering. This means he became an expert in designing and building aircraft. He worked for big aircraft companies like Saab in Sweden and Lockheed in the United States.
Building a Balloon Company
Per Lindstrand teamed up with another Swedish engineer, Håkan Colting, to start a company called Colting Balloons in 1976. They first operated in Ireland. In 1978, the company moved to Oswestry, England. This move helped them be closer to important markets in the UK and Europe. When Håkan Colting moved to Canada, Per continued to run the company. It was renamed Colt Balloons, and later became Thunder & Colt Balloons after buying another company.
In December 1991, Per Lindstrand started his own company, Lindstrand Balloons Ltd. He later created a special aerospace company called Lindstrand Technologies Ltd. Both companies are based in Oswestry. They make and fix many things, including airships, gas balloons, and other products made from strong fabrics. These can include huge architectural structures and even special fire-safety devices for road tunnels. In 2002, Lindstrand Balloons was asked to make a complex parachute for the Mars-lander, Beagle 2. Beagle 2 was launched in June 2003. It was thought to have failed its landing on Mars on Christmas Day 2003. However, in January 2015, it was found on Mars in pictures from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The pictures showed it landed safely, but two of its solar panels did not open. This blocked its communication antenna.
Lindstrand Balloons also worked with Daimler Chrysler Aerospace from Germany. They won a contract from the European Space Agency. Their job was to design a high-altitude airship that could stay in the air for a long time. This airship might be used for telecommunications. Because of this work, Per Lindstrand received the German "Korber Prize" for his excellent engineering.
Amazing Record Flights
From the start of his business career, Per Lindstrand was very interested in pushing the limits of lighter-than-air technology. He managed to break every world record for hot air balloon flight!
On June 6, 1988, Per Lindstrand took off from Plano, Texas, in the US. He set a new world altitude record for hot-air balloons. He reached an incredible height of 19,811 meters (64,997 feet)! This record stood for many years until November 26, 2005.
In January 1991, Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson completed the longest flight in lighter-than-air history. They flew the "Virgin Pacific Flyer," a huge hot air balloon designed by Thunder & Colt. They traveled 6,761 miles from Japan to Northern Canada. Their flight set two new world records for distance and how long they stayed in the air. They also broke their own ground speed record, flying at 245 mph (395 km/h). The "Virgin Pacific Flyer" is still the largest hot air balloon ever built.
In December 1998, Per Lindstrand, Richard Branson, and Steve Fossett tried to be the first to fly a balloon of any type around the world. They flew for 7 days and covered over 20,000 km in a Rozière balloon. They launched from Morocco and landed in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, where rescue services were waiting.
Awards and Recognition
Per Lindstrand has received many important awards for his achievements. He was given the Royal Aero Club's Gold Medal twice, in 1989 and 1991, by Prince Andrew. He also received the Royal Aero Club's "Britannia Trophy" in 1988. He earned America's highest flying award, the Harmon Trophy. Vice President Quayle presented this award to him at the White House. In February 2006, he was given an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Institute of British Architects. This was for his very creative work with inflatable structures. Per Lindstrand is also listed in the Guinness Hall of Fame for his world records.
