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New Mexico designated the hot air balloon as the official state aircraft in 2005. Albuquerque, New Mexico is known worldwide for its famous yearly hot air balloon mass ascension event - The International Balloon Fiesta.
Balloons operate through the basic principles of gravity and hot air rising. As air inside the balloon is heated, it rises. As the air inside the balloon cools, it descends. The hot air balloon is the oldest successful flight technology for carrying humans, dating back to its invention by the French Montgolfier brothers in 1783.
New Mexico License plate with hot air balloon - photo © Norm Russo
(used by permission)
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