North of Augsburg in the town of Gersthofen there is the ‘Ballonmuseum Gersthofen’, the oldest balloon museum in the world. It was founded by gas balloonist Alfred Eckert with many items from his personal collection originally displayed in the old town water tower. The museum has since expanded and is now located in a multistory building adjacent to the original tower. This post is for my fellow balloonists back in Connecticut, who will especially enjoy this small sample of the museums displays and artifacts.
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| Replica early gas balloon and gondola |
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| Suspended basket ready for museum goers to test |
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| Anchor for slowing a balloon on a high wing landing |
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| Traditional vents for releasing gas from balloon |
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| Vent from one of the early 1900's Airship Parseval |
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| Competition trophies |
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Primitive hot air balloon inflation fan
My friend Matt produces well crafted fans and will enjoy seeing this model |
Augsburg’s reputation as a balloon center began in 1897, when August Reidinger founded the balloon factory ‘Ballonfabrik Augsburg’. In 1901 a balloon club was formed, which still exists today. The Freiballonverein Augsburg e.V. or the Augsburg Free Balloon Club has its launch site located in an unassuming field within an industrial park a short walk from the museum.
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