The Indian Army’s Hot Air Ballooning Expedition from Bhopal to Pune, flagged off on November 30, 2025, has set an Asian record for the longest duration flight in India, covering over 750 kilometers in a non-stop leg of 8 hours and 44 minutes, as recognized by the Asian Book of Records. Conducted by the Adventure Wing’s Hot Air Ballooning Node at EME Centre, Bhopal, the team traversed diverse terrains from Madhya Pradesh’s Narmada Valley to Maharashtra’s Western Ghats, with halts at Mhow, Sambhajinagar, and Ahilyanagar. Throughout the journey, personnel engaged local youth with motivational talks and demonstrations, promoting military values like courage, teamwork, resilience, and adventure spirit, while inspiring interest in the Armed Forces. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, GOC-in-C Southern Command, praised the team’s professionalism and endurance upon flag-in at Pune on December 10. This feat underscores India’s prowess in adventure aviation and youth outreach.