
The balloon crashed on the Island, with the real Henry Gale as an occupant. He was killed in as yet unknown circumstances, although the survivors have assumed that he was murdered by one of the Others, Ben. Ben subsequently stole his identity. He was buried in a grave next to the crash site.
There is an enclosed gondola with several metal cylinders attached and a hatch on top. The side of the gondola has a decal reading "Minnesota Metallurgy & Mining Co." Under that are the words "Proudly Sponsored By" with decals for Mr. Cluck's Chicken Shack and Nozz-a-La Cola.
The Widmore Labs logo is also seen at the side of the gondola, above the tanks.
The balloon itself is red with a smiley face logo on the side, which is very similar to the smiley face button from the graphic novel Watchmen, which the writers have expressed an appreciation for in past interviews.
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There are currently 6 locations that can be flown to, each needing a specific type of log and Firemaking level to attempt the flight. The player may not carry over 40 kilograms of weight when using the balloon. This weight limit does not include the log used to make the journey.
After completing the Enlightened Journey quest, a player can travel between Entrana and Taverley. To unlock the 4 new routes, a player must first start from Entrana with the required new logs, and navigate successfully through 3 screens to a new destination. Crashing the balloon will result in the loss of the remaining logs, and the need to start again in Entrana with a new set of logs. Once a destination is unlocked, players may travel there from any other unlocked location, using fewer logs, and without navigating the 3 screens.
| Destination | Initial Trip | Firemaking Level | Subsequent Trips | NPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrana | Build balloon (during Quest) | 20 | 1 normal Log | Auguste |
| Taverley | 10 normal Logs (during Quest) | 20 | 1 normal Log | Assistant Stan |
| Crafting Guild | 10 Oak logs | 30 | 1 Oak log | Assistant Brock |
| Varrock - south of Lumber Yard | 10 Willow logs | 40 | 1 Willow log | Assistant Serf |
| Castle Wars | 10 Yew logs | 50 | 1 Yew log | Assistant Marrow |
| Grand Tree | 3 Magic logs | 60 | 1 Magic log | Assistant Le Smith |
Note: For each of the 4 new routes that is unlocked, a player receives 2,000
experience.

See the quest Ballooning section for a review of flying a balloon.
There are 6 locations the balloons can fly to: Entrana, Taverley, Crafting Guild, Varrock, Castle Wars, and the Grand Tree. Entrana and Taverley are available after completing the Enlightened Journey quest.
Entrana is also the main entry point to unlock routes to new locations. A player must start at the Entrana site carrying the appropriate logs. For the first trip, a player needs to navigate through 3 screens avoiding birds, clouds, buildings, trees, and other hazards. Once the player completes the journey, the subsequent trips do not require navigation and the trip requires only 1 log of the appropriate type.
Due to an unknown update, a tinderbox is no longer required to unlock new routes, but the player must still carry the appropriate amount and types of logs needed to unlock the route.
There are several rocks that look exactly like the balloon landing sites before completing Enlightened Journey.
In Trollweiss Hunter area there is a snow or ice covered stone landing pad rock in the northeast.
The following sections show one of several possible methods to get to the final destination.
| Screen 1 | Screen 2 | Screen 3 |
|---|---|---|
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| Relax (x3), Burn log (x2), Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax (x4), Burn log, Pull RED rope, Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Relax, Burn log, Relax. | Relax, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2), Burn log, Relax (x3), Pull RED rope, Burn log, Relax (x2), Burn log, Relax (x6). | Relax (x2), Drop sandbag, Relax (x6), Pull RED rope, Relax (x3), Pull normal rope, Relax (x3), Pull normal rope. |
| Screen 1 | Screen 2 | Screen 3 |
|---|---|---|
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| Drop sandbag, Relax, Burn log (2x), Relax, Pull normal rope (x2), Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Relax, Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Burn log (x2), Relax (x2). | Relax (x6), Burn log (x2), Pull normal rope (x4), Relax (x2), Drop Sandbag, Relax (x4). | Relax (x3), Drop sandbag, Relax, Pull RED rope, Drop sandbag, Relax (x3), Pull RED rope, Drop sandbag, Relax, Pull normal rope, Relax, Pull RED rope (x2), Relax. |
| Screen 1 | Screen 2 | Screen 3 |
|---|---|---|
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| Drop sandbag (x2), Burn log, Relax (x5), Pull RED rope, Relax, Burn log, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax (x2), Drop sandbag, Relax (x3). | Burn Log, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Pull normal rope, Relax (x7), Drop sandbag, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Burn log, Pull normal rope, Relax. | Drop sandbag, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax (x3), Burn log, Pull RED rope, Relax (x4), Drop sandbag, Pull RED rope, Relax (x2), Pull normal rope. |
| Screen 1 | Screen 2 | Screen 3 |
|---|---|---|
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| Relax (x7), Pull normal rope, Relax (x10). | Burn log, Pull normal rope, Burn log, Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax (x2), Burn log, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2), Drop sandbag, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2). | Burn log (x3), Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax (x5), Pull RED rope, Relax, Pull RED rope, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2). |
The log payments and the maximum weight requirement (40 kg) seems a major disadvantage of the Balloon Transport System. Of interest are the destinations where the log payment is relatively painless. The main uses of the Balloon Transport System are in combination with the use of a Ring of duelling teleport to the Castle Wars for banking. Typical trips start at the Castle Wars Bank, which has an entry to the Balloon Transport System close by. Examples of round trips to Balloon Transport System destinations, and possible activities are presented in the table below:
| Destination | Cost | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Entrana | 1 log | Law runecrafting at Law altar, Buy vials, Sand collection (Note: No weapons or armour allowed, including woodcutting axes.) |
| Taverley | 1 log | Access to Summoning Obelisk, Buy vials, Access to Tree patch and to the crystal key chest and also Player Owned House portal. |
| Crafting Guild | 1 Oak log | Mining ores at Crafting Guild & Rimmington Mine (Tip: Using the Magic spell Superheat item GREATLY decreases the weight for return trips), Berry patch at Rimmington, also Player Owned House portal. Close to Port Sarim, and the (possible) Easter events. Can be used as an entry point into the balloon network in conjunction with a charged skills necklace |
| Varrock | 1 Willow log | Earth runecrafting at Earth altar, Air runecrafting at Air altar, Access Alternate entrance for Chaos runecrafting at Chaos altar, Using the Sawmill, Woodcutting. |
| Castle Wars | 1 Yew log | Closest to a bank, often used as an entry point into the balloon network in conjunction with a Ring of duelling. |
| Grand Tree | 1 Magic log | Tree patch, Fruit Tree patch, Spirit Tree Transport System, Gnome Gliders, Gnome Stronghold agility course |
As one example, a player with 60 woodcutting can equip several thousand gold, Boots of Lightness, a Spotted Cape, an Earth tiara, and rune essence at Castle Wars, leaving one inventory space free:
Repeat as needed for a much faster way to get both oak planks for Construction, and that always-tiring runecrafting experience, using less time and running energy than other plank or runecrafting options. Alternatively players may stock up on willow logs in advance, and use a ring of duelling rather than a yew log to return to castlewars.
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| Balloonists | |
| Locations |
Entrana • Taverley • Crafting Guild • Varrock sawmill • Castle Wars • Grand Tree |
Hot air balloons were used on the planet Lahsbane to cross the broad canyons that existed there. The native Lahsbee/Huhk aversion to technology meant this was one of the most sophisticated forms of air transport on the planet. Gliders were also used to cross the canyons.[1]
Well you can't get one, but you can use the transport system. See here for more info:
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