Both the French and British called the balloons ‘sausages’ – the Germans called them ‘drachen’ (meaning dragon as well as kite) – there were also less polite words for them! The longest balloon chain was achieved by Future Generali India Life Insurance Cooperative Limited and Big Bazaar in collaboration with G2rams India Private Limited (Pan India) in Mumbai, India, in 2011. view of hanging sausage balloon installation, through store window (left) and from within the shop (right)

Modern-day balloons are made from many different materials. It is the kind of materials used in the making of the balloon which determines the stretchiness and buoyancy of that particular balloon. Each RFC Brigade had a Kite Balloon Wing commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. Within each wing was a number (typically five) Kite Balloon Companies – these being commanded by a Captain or Major. Each Company would have two or three Kite Balloon Sections.[1] On 3 July 1917, Lt. Eric Arnold Cleaver parachuted from balloon which burst at 4,000 feet. The balloon caught him up and the suction closed his parachute; he fell rapidly with the balloon and was killed. He is buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery. Above: Kite balloon view of the windlass and crew at work on ascent, Oct 1916. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3404749)

Explore Activity Village

Above: A painting courtesy of Cranston Fine Arts entitled 'Balloon Buster Extraordinaire' by Stan Stokes. This shows Coppens approaching a German balloon. balloon factory’ was originally designed in 2011 as a performative assembly line (covered by designboom here). the ODL team creates their own balloon formers, which are primed with soap before being dipped into latex. the thin coat of rubber that adheres to the surface becomes the actual balloon. while it is still wet, latex colours can be mixed or the balloon can be hand-painted to achieve various visual effects. once dry the rubber is leached and vulcanized to be strengthened for inflating. in all, each balloon takes about three hours to produce. In addition, the kind of material used in the manufacturing of balloons will also decide whether your balloon will float or not if you are inflating the balloon yourself. Despite the anecdote detailed here, Lt Col MacNeece had more hours observing than any of his subordinates. By October 1917 he had logged more than 500 hours and been awarded a DSO. On 10 August 1918, whilst commanding 5 Balloon Wing (in 5 Brigade RAF) he had to parachute to safety after being shot down in a ‘friendly fire’ incident by a British SE5 scout. He was injured on landing. He remained in the post war RAF retiring in 1946 as an Air Vice-Marshal.

They are very colorful and are often used as fun rides during festivals and similar occasions. This is why they are important!There are many accounts of bravery that can be related about the officers who manned these balloons. Above: A Caquot kite balloon ready to ascend. Note a motor winch and infantrymen hauling on ropes to hold the balloon down. Near Metz, 25 January 1918. IWM Q11892