Purpose of the flight and payload description
This balloon flight was carried out for unknown purposes on August 6, 2025. The mission departed from the Apalachicola Regional Airport in Florida and followed a flight path across the shore line to the Gulf of Mexico where the mission was terminated four hour later.
There is no public available information regarding the flight. On social media were posted some images of the balloon and there was several comments about the presence in the launch site of military from the nearby Tyndall Air Force base, however that could be simple speculation.
The zero-pressure balloon was manufactured by Aerostar and probably operated by the balloon firm too (hence the call sign). The payload probably was heavy, in the limit of the balloon capacity because it never acquired a fully inflated natural shape.
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 8/6/2025 at 23:30 UTC
Launch site: Apalachicola Regional Airport, Florida, US
Balloon launched by: Aerostar ?
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon
Flight identification number: HBAL715
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/7/2025 at 3:00 UTC
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 3 h 20 m
Landing site: In the Gulf of Mexico, 70 km SE of Panama City, Florida, US
External references
Images of the mission
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