When The World's Largest Hot Air Balloon Came To Sunbury

 

The World's Largest Hot Air Balloon, built and flown by Walter Kuhnert, in the fall of 1938.
The photo above shows the balloon in Harrisburg, just a few days before it was brought to Sunbury.

In September of 1938, the "World's Largest Hot Air Balloon Featuring An Ascension Act" came to the Sunbury Airport.

The balloon was 62 feet in diameter, 94 feet in height, and weighed 525 lbs.  It was made from 2,000 square yards of cloth.  The balloon was operated by Walter Kuhnert and son from Steelton.

The Kunhert launch consisted of a fire being built under the bag of the balloon, causing the balloon to rise.  (The same process that is used today).  When it reached an altitude of several thousand feet, or "the ceiling", a valve was released to allow the hot air to escape and cause the balloon to begin to fall.  Once the balloon began it's descent, Kunhert would jump from the basket and glide to the earth in a parachute, leaving the balloon to fall to the ground on it's own.

Just before coming to Sunbury, Lester Kunhert nearly lost his balloon when after jumping from the craft, the balloon floated to a nearby farmers field, instead of landing at the Lancaster Airport.  

Trouble between farmer Harry B. Lefevre and the airport began in 1934, when he refused to sell his land to them.  The land was then obtained through "condemnation".  Since that time, Lefevre complained that local fliers deviled him constantly, flying low over him and his horses s he worked in his fields

The Lancaster Airport was managed by Walter Kuhnert, father of the balloonist Lester.  As soon as the balloon landed in Lefevre's field, just 25 feet north of the airport fence, Walter approached and asked to retrieve the balloon.  Lefevre demanded $5, stating that anything that landed in his field was his.  As the ground crew attempted to retrieve the balloon without payment, Lefevre slapped and kicked them.  A fist fight ensued.  Lefevre brought the local constable to the airport later that day, swearing out a complaint of assault against the men, and listing a litany of complaints about the airport dating back since his land had been taken in 1934.

Kunhert apparently did not go to jail, and he did have his balloon, when he headed to Sunbury the following week. The Sunbury event appears to have gone off without incident of any kind.  

For More Hot Air Balloon Stories:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/03/hot-air-balloons-in-valley.html

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The first hot air balloon show in our area, that I have found so far, was in 1875 in Dewart Pa.  It was a unique, and massive, event, and I still have not learned what brought the balloonist to the tiny hamlet of Dewart, although I assume that he knew someone who lived there, or someone who lived there was passionate about the new hot air balloon craze and hired him to come there.  You can read about the event here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-hot-air-balloon-came-to-dewart-in.html

The Annual Hot Air Ballonfestival, Airshow & More is always one of my favorite fall events here in the valley.  It's held at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville each September https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-fall-balloonfest-in-hughesville.html