# Aerophile

Aerophile SAS is a French company specialized in building and operating tethered helium balloons. Formed in 1993 the tethered gas balloons operate as tourist attractions around the world. The company has sold more than 60 balloons in 30 countries.

## History

Aerophile was founded in 1993 by two 25-year-old French engineers from the École Polytechnique, Mathieu Gobbi and Jerome Giacomoni. In 1994, they installed their first large tethered balloon in Chantilly, France) and in 1998, Aerophile celebrated its first flight to an altitude of 300 metres (980 ft). In 1999, the company launched the large Paris Balloon and improved it in 2008 by adding a lighting system.
In 2000, the company created a mobile tethered balloon approved to carry two people to a height of 90 metres (300 ft): the Aero2.
In 2002 they operated the first modern tethered gas ballon on a water-based platform at Neuchâtel.
In 2005 the company installed a large PanoraMagique balloon, operated by a subsidiary Aerotourism, at Disneyland Paris, it was the first 8-point Aero30NG balloon.
In 2007, they set up and opened the first Aerophare in Evry 2 (France), an attraction with an air-filled captive balloon within a 54 metres (177 ft) tower. Aerophare is a novel adaptation of a tethered balloon operating in an enclosed tower.
An Aerophile ballon holds the record for carrying 30 passengers in a gas balloon.
The company currently runs six Aero30NG : Paris Balloon, one at Disneyland Paris, one in Walt Disney World Resort, one in the Orange County Great Park, one in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and one Aerobar, the latest creation, at Futuroscope.

### Subsidiaries

The Aerogroupe company has several subsidiaries :
* Aerophile SA, the principal subsidiary (Balloon's manufacture and sale).
* Aeroparis to operate the Paris Balloon
* Aeromobile to operate the balloon at Irvine
* Aerotourism to operate the balloon at Disneyland Paris
* Aerophile Orlando to operate the balloon at Walt Disney World Resort

## Balloons

The Aero30NG is a tethered balloon that is 22.5 meters (74 ft) in diameter. It can take up to 30 people at a time in its nacelle, rising up to 300 meters (980 ft). Its winch system ensures a climb speed of 0.8 metres per second (2.6 ft/s), and its patented platform optimizes landings. This balloon has been installed over five continents in the following countries:
* Europe
** France : Château de Cheverny, Château de Chantilly, Bordeaux, Beaune, Parc de Samara, Paris Balloon, and Disneyland Paris
** Belgium,
** Germany
** Austria
** Switzerland
** Italy
** Spain
** Portugal
** United Kingdom
* North America
** Canada
** United States : Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando
* Africa
** Tunisia
* Asia
** Turkey
** Irak
** Lebanon
** Dubai
** Japan
** South Korea
** China : Ocean Park Hong Kong
** Vietnam
** Cambodia : Angkor Wat
** Thailand
** Singapore
* Australia
This model has also been adapted to allow parachute jumps as part of military training in Yemen.
The Aero2 is a charged helium balloon of 9 meters (30 ft) in diameter that offers a view for two passengers to around 90 metres (300 ft) above ground. The moored balloon can be seen from as far away as 10 kilometers (6.2 mi). This balloon has been used as a marketing tool for Danao Tour in 2002 and also by Fortis and other companies throughout France.
The Aerophare is a balloon operating within a 54 metres (177 ft) tower structure. The structure allows it to operate worse weather than a conventional tethered balloon.
The Aerobar is an aerial bar. This new concept allows 15 individuals to rise up to 120 feet (37 m) in the sky while enjoying their favorite drink. Visitors experience triple emotions: the chills of seeing the ground away from their feet; great views while discovering the scenery and the canopy of heaven meeting the earth in a full 360° circle; and the conviviality with the other passengers that share a drink aboard this aerial bar.
The first Aerobar was installed at Futuroscope, the second largest theme park in France.
The Little Prince Park is located in Ungersheim in the Alsace region. The park gets its name from the French novel The Little Prince. A total of 31 attractions are based loosely on the theme of flight.