When Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman climbed into the gondola of the Double Eagle II on Aug. 11, 1978, they began an adventure momentous in the history of aviation. Six days later they landed in a field in France, having completed the first successful transatlantic hot air balloon flight. A replica of the balloon, at Double Eagle II Park on Spragueville Road just beyond Echo Lake, indicates the starting point of the flight. Learn More...