A new design for a solar-powered hybrid hot-air balloon, by Cameron Balloons, made its first flight this weekend at a balloon rally in Bristol, England. The aircraft is the first fully certified balloon to use the hybrid solar concept. The balloon envelope is designed with a special black panel, which absorbs the heat from the sun, and on the other side is a panel of insulating silver fabric, which helps to retain the heat in the envelope. The design enables the aircraft to fly while using about one-quarter the propane fuel that a standard flight would require, according to a news release from the fiesta organizers.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/news/solar-balloon-takes-flight-over-england