Colorful hot air balloons glide across the Qicai Danxia scenic area in Zhangye City, northwest China's Gansu Province on August 17, 2023. (Photo by Rex Features/Shutterstock)
Balloons take off during the 44th International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Chateau-d'Oex, Switzerland, on January 25, 2024. (Photo by Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
An alien-shaped hot air balloon flies during a mass launch at the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, near Bristol, Britain, on August 8, 2025. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)
A biplane taking part in the Vintage Air Rally lands, in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, South Africa December 16, 2016. (Photo by Mike Hutchings/Reuters)
People are seen watching hot air balloons fly overhead during a two-day international hot air balloon festival in Eshkol Park near the southern city of Netivot, Israel July 22, 2016. (Photo by Amir Cohen/Reuters)
A hot air balloon competition called “Grudziadzkie Zawody Balonowe” is held in Lisie Katy, central-northern Poland, 14 May 2021. The competition is held for the eighteenth time. (Photo by Tytus Zmijewski/EPA/EFE)
Hot-air balloons fly over Metropolitano park during the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Leon, state of Guanajuato, Mexico on November 19, 2023. (Photo by Henry Romero/Reuters)
This view shows giant hot air balloons of various shapes being lifted to begin flights from the Metropolitan Park over the city of Leon during the 2025 International Balloon Festival (FIG) in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Mario Armas/AFP Photo)