Today's Rozière designs use non-flammable helium rather than hydrogen. Their primary application is for extremely long duration flights.[4]
The first successful Atlantic crossing was made 31 August to 2 September 1986, Newfoundland to the Netherlands, by Brink, Brink and Hageman in the balloon Dutch Viking.[5]
During February 1992, the first east-to-west Atlantic crossing was achieved by Feliu and Green.[5]
Four Cameron-R77s made Atlantic crossings, west to east, during September 1992. One was co-piloted by Bertrand Piccard.[5]
Australian adventurer Dick Smith and his co-pilot John Wallington made the first balloon voyage across Australia, in another Cameron-R77 Rozière, Australian Geographic Flyer, on 18 June 1993,[6] earning the 1995 Montgolfier Diploma.[7]
Steve Fossett made the first successful Pacific crossing during February 1995.[5]
On 27 February 1999, while they were trying to circumnavigate the world by balloon, Colin Prescot and Andy Elson set a new endurance record after flying in a Rozière combined helium and hot air balloon (the Cable & Wireless balloon) for 233 hours and 55 minutes.[8] Then on 21 March of that year, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones became the first to circumnavigate the Earth, in a Rozière known as the Breitling Orbiter 3, in a flight lasting 477 hours, 47 minutes.[8]
On 4 July 2002, after five previous attempts, Steve Fossett became the first to achieve a round the world solo flight also in a Rozière named the Spirit of Freedom.[9]
On 23 July 2016, Fyodor Konyukhov completed a round-the-world solo flight in a Rozière in just over 11 days, setting a new world record.[10]
