Joe Kittinger Jr. left Caribou, Maine, at 8:32 p.m. on Sept. 14, 1984, in Rosie O'Grady's Balloon of Peace. He remained aloft more that 83 hours, covering a distance of 3,543 miles before landing near Montenotte, Italy, at 2:08p.m. on Sept. 18.
The Balloon on Peace stood approximately 10 stories tall, weighed only 820 pounds and held 101,000 cubic feet of helium. It carried an open fiberglass gondola to be used as a boat in the event of a water landing.
The transatlantic solo flight broke several world distance records and was an outstanding success.
Our Rosie O'Grady sponsors are recognized in honor of this achievement.