Balloon (aeronautics)
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In aeronautics, a balloon is an unpowered aerostat, which remains aloft or floats due to its buoyancy. It may use hot air as a lifting gas, or it may use gas that is not air like hydrogen or helium. A
A hot air balloon in flight
In 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones achieved the first non-stop balloon circumnavigation in Breitling Orbiter 3.
"Aerostation out at Elbows, or The Itinerant Aeronaut" print illustration and poem (1785)
Hot air balloons, San Diego
Aerostat
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An aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft is an aircraft that relies on buoyancy to maintain flight. Aerostats include unpowered balloons and powered airships.
A modern aerostat used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS)
A free-flying hot air balloon
The Goodyear blimps are non-rigid airships.