Howard Koslow: Explorer II Hot Air Balloon

Artist: Howard Koslow
1924 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1982
Image Size: 12 by 14 inches
Overall Size: 18 by 20.5 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Cold Press Illustration Board

Early on the cold, crisp morning of November 11, 1935, two brave aeronauts ... Albert W. Stevens and Orvil A. Anderson ... climbed aboard a small steel-clad gondola that was precariously suspended below a gigantic balloon. Gently lifting-off from the famed Stratobowl near Rapid City, South Dakota, they ascended farther into the heavens than anyone before them had ever dared. Their silent airship -- the Explorer II -- consisted of the largest balloon ever constructed up to that time. It was made of thousands of square feet of rubber-like material that, when fully inflated with helium, spanned over 192 feet across, and towered a staggering 315 feet tall ... holding millions of cubic feet of lighter-than-air helium. In addition, the huge gondola suspended beneath the balloon by a network of one-inch cables -- closely resembled an over-sized diving bell in shape. Within its walls it carried the two aeronauts, hundreds of pounds of lead ballast and nearly a ton of scientific equipment. As the towering balloon slowly rose through the atmosphere, the lead ballast was jettisoned to lighten the load and quicken the ascent. If the airship rose too quickly, helium would be slowly released through valves on top of the balloon. By cautiously maintaining this constant upward movement, the Explorer II set a new high-altitude record by climbing far into the stratosphere -- to the remarkable height of 72,395 feet above sea level.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.S. 20¢ Explorer II stamp issue of March 31, 1983.

Artwork Copyright © 1982 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): Sold

Easy Purchase Plan: Buy this ArtworkOriginal with 8 monthly payments. Shipping and handling will be added to the first payment. Payments will be charged automatically as due to your Credit Card.

How to buy Original Artwork:

If you would like to buy Original Artwork, there are several convenient ways:

Use The Artwork Gallery: simply click the "Hang in Gallery" for pictures of interest. This puts the picture in your Personal Artwork Gallery, where you can view or remove it. When you've finished hanging artwork in your Personal Artwork Gallery, Go to your Personal Artwork Gallery and select an option for contacting us or ordering from us from there.

To get in touch with us directly about a piece of Artwork by Phone note the SKU and dial TOLL FREE 1-800-443-4225 from throughout U.S. and Canada.