On this day, 47 years ago, on August 29, 1978 (July 26, 1978 in the lunar calendar), three Americans flew across the Atlantic Ocean in balloons setting a record. The Double Eagles flew over the Atlantic Ocean On August 29, 1978, three Americans made their first balloon flight across the Atlantic Ocean, flying in the air for 138 hours and 6 minutes, setting a lasting flight record. The Twin Eagles balloons landed in a field west of Paris with Ben Abruzzo, Max Anderson and Larry Newman, all New Mexicans. Abruzzo said he hoped to land near the Eiffel Tower, but it was still 60 kilometers away.