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Volunteers learn how to handle balloons for the upcoming Thanksgiving Day parade in Detroit. Dawn Uhl-Zifilippo hide caption

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Dawn Uhl-Zifilippo

National

Up, Up And Away: Balloon School For Parade Newbies

WDET 101.9 FM

November 24, 2015 • Balloons are a mainstay of Thanksgiving Day parades across the nation. It takes skill, strength and teamwork to control those helium-filled bags of fun — that's exactly what balloon school is for.

Up, Up And Away: Balloon School For Parade Newbies

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Chinese Balloonist Rescued At Sea By Japanese Coast Guard

A photo released by Japan's 11th Regional Coast Guard shows a hot air balloon whose Chinese occupant was rescued on Wednesday after a failed attempt to reach a disputed islands chain. Uncredited/AP hide caption

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Uncredited/AP

The Two-Way

Chinese Balloonist Rescued At Sea By Japanese Coast Guard

January 2, 2014 • The pilot was apparently trying to reach a chain of islands in the East China Sea that is claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo.

The Two-Way

Company To Offer $75,000 Balloon Rides To 'Near Space'

October 22, 2013 • Arizona-based World View Enterprises is planning the trips to 19 miles altitude — high enough to see the blackness of space and the curvature of the Earth.

Tourist Tragedy In Egypt: Hot Air Balloon Catches Fire; Many Aboard Killed

The wreckage of a hot air balloon and its gondola lay in a field near Luxor, Egypt, on Tuesday. A fire and subsequent crash killed many of those who were aboard the tourist flight. Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Tourist Tragedy In Egypt: Hot Air Balloon Catches Fire; Many Aboard Killed

February 26, 2013 • The death toll is reported to be near 20. What caused the fire and crash has yet to be determined. Balloon rides over the ancient city of Luxor and nearby historic sites are popular among tourists. Those killed are said to have been from Japan, Britain, Belgium and France.