Headfirst! Festo balloon inspires in the Esslingen district at its anniversary

Headfirst! Festo balloon inspires in the Esslingen district at its anniversary

What is floating above the sky in Esslingen? A balancing hot air balloon from Festo causes amazement and a bit of confusion. The balloon, which appears to be hanging upside down while diving, is not only a work of art, but also a cleverly planned publicity stunt to mark the company's 100th anniversary. Pictures of the surprising sight are already circulating on social media, such as on the Instagram account “@stuttgarter.memes”.

The amazing sight is further enhanced by the special construction of the balloon: the gondola, which is actually upside down, is a dummy. The “real” gondola with the pilot and an occasional passenger – usually a Festo employee – is located invisibly on the underside of the balloon. This type of tethered balloon, which has existed since 1995, has also caused a stir in the past. On previous flights, concerned passers-by even reported alleged aircraft accidents, which led to the police having to give the all-clear several times.

Captive balloons and their history

But what exactly is a captive balloon? According to Wikipedia, it is a balloon filled with lifting gas that remains connected to the ground by a rope. This type of balloon has a long history dating back to the 18th century. They were used, among other things, during the two world wars for aerial reconnaissance and as barrage balloons against low-flying aircraft.

In contrast to the modern advertising balloons as we know them today, the oldest surviving military balloon, the “Intrépide”, is located in the Vienna Military History Museum. In any case, tethered balloons are not only foam kisses for the sky, but also play a role in aviation history. Historically, they were used during World War II to deter low-flying aircraft by anchoring them to the ground with rope barriers, as the Schutzmodelle Stuttgart website explains.

Visible relics of the past

These rope barriers, originally used for aviation security, can still be seen in some areas today. They were dismantled over the years due to their ineffectiveness, with most enemy aircraft flying at altitudes that had little impact on defenses. There were also numerous popular myths that these structures could even use radio waves to disrupt enemy aircraft - an idea that turned out to be unfounded.

However, modern tethered balloons have evolved and are now often used for advertising and promotion. Smaller, unmanned variants are often found at political events or for summer promotions at city festivals. Many passers-by and tourists enthusiastically watch the colorful balloons, which have colorful logos and are visible from the air.

In summary, Festo's upside-down balloon is not only a creative advertising measure, but also represents an exciting connection to aviation history and the numerous uses of tethered balloons over the years. Perhaps that is exactly what makes these aviation works of art so appealing: the combination of nostalgia and modern flair that captivates both historians and curious passers-by.