Belgacom Captive Balloon 'Aerophile'

After Paris, Berlin and twenty other places all over the world, Brussels has since April 2003 its very own captive balloon : the "Belgacom Balloon". The Balloon is situated in the Commune of Schaerbeek, in the "Espace Gaucheret", at the end of the Boulevard du Roi Albert II, and will stay there until January 2006.

"Aerophile" - as the captive balloon is called - is one of the largest balloons in the world. It has a 5,500 m³ envelope permanently inflated with helium, an inert and non flammable gas, and a circular passenger cabin equipped to carry up to 30 people at a time. It is attached to the ground by a cable which, when fully extended, lifts its passengers 150 metres into the air.