# Terrifying Hot-Air Flights Christian Brown's Glass-Bottomed Balloon is Not for the Faint of Heart By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-09-07 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-bottomed-balloon References: [today.msnbc.msn](http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/ns/today/) & [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5611861/glass+bottomed-hot-air-balloon-is-a-terrifying-experience) The glass-bottomed balloon was designed to fly over the Alps and provide a view of the scenery below. It made its first flight at the 2010 [Bristol International Balloon Fiesta](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/international-balloon-festival). Christian Brown created the world's only glass-bottomed balloon and claims that flying in it is a "terrifying experience." Brown is a veteran [hot air balloon pilot](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-balloon-lamp) with nearly two decades' experience. He even traveled around the world in a hot air balloon with Sir Richard Branson, but nether that experience or Brown's world record of 10,000 feet in a tethered hot air balloon prepared him for the fright of glass-bottom balloon flight. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 30% | Activity: 66% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Glass-bottomed Balloons:** Opportunity to create and market glass-bottomed balloons as a unique and thrilling flying experience. - **Extreme Tourism:** Developing extreme tourism packages that include glass-bottomed balloon flights over scenic locations. - **Aerial Adventures:** Expanding the concept of aerial adventures by introducing glass-bottomed balloons as a new thrilling experience. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Hot Air Balloon Industry:** Incorporating glass-bottomed balloons into existing hot air balloon tour offerings to attract adventurous tourists. - **Adventure Tourism Industry:** Partnering with glass-bottomed balloon operators to offer unique and adrenaline-pumping experiences to adventure travelers. - **Aviation Industry:** Exploring the potential of glass-bottomed balloons as a new segment in the aviation industry to cater to thrill-seeking customers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Hot Air Balloon Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/culiair-skydining.md) - [Riviera-Inspired Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-air-balloon-dining.md) - [Exclusive Luxurious Spaceflight Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-space-perspective.md) - [Helium-Filled Airship Yachts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-yacht.md) - [Space Tourism Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/space-perspective-1.md) - [Seafaring Sky Yachts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airyacht.md) - [Chocolate Spread Hot Air Balloons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-air-balloon-experience.md) - [Immersive Balloon Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balloon-story-popup.md) - [Ferris Wheel Bedrooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sleep-capsule.md)