First hot-air balloon crossing of the English Channel

The first crossing of the English Channel by hot-air balloon was made by Don Piccard and Ed Yost (both USA) on 13 April 1963. They flew their purpose-built balloon Channel Champ from Rye on the south coast of the UK to Gravelines in France.

Although many crossings of the channel had been made using balloons or airships, all of them were filled with a lifting gas such as hydrogen or helium. This attempt was the first to cross the channel in a balloon that used nothing but hot air for lift. Don Piccard and Ed Yost were pioneers in the development of the modern hot air balloon, introducing features such as controllable propane burners, synthetic non-porous fabrics, load-bearing webbing reinforcement and controllable vents for adjusting lift.

Don Piccard was the son of record-breaking balloonists Jean-Felix and Jeannette Piccard, and the cousin of submariner Jacques Piccard.