ballooning

[Eng. balloon; -ing.] The art of constructing balloons, or of using them for the purpose of aerial navigation. "Since then the art of ballooning has been greatly extended, and many ascents have been made."- Atkin son: Ganot's Physics, 3rd ed. (1868), p. 14 Military Ballooning: The art of using halloons for military purposes. Sometimes captive balloons have been employed to reconnoitre the enemy in war; and on Friday, October 7, 1870, during the investment of Paris by the Germans, the celebrated French deputy, Gambetta, escaped from the beleaguered capital in a balloon. The first use of balloons in the British Army was at Suakim in 1885.