Hele Balloon Launch Facility
Daylight today(Jul 23, 2026, local time)
About 13h 5m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.
About Hele Balloon Launch Facility
From January 28 to February 4, 2023, a high-altitude balloon originating from China flew across North American airspace, including Alaska, western Canada, and the contiguous United States. On February 4, the U.S. Air Force shot down the balloon over U.S. territorial waters off the coast of South Carolina near the city of Myrtle Beach. Debris from the wreckage was recovered and sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis. U.S. officials stated that the balloon carried intelligence-gathering equipment but does not appear to have sent information back to China. They believed that while the balloon carried a motor, it could not overcome high altitude winds and the Chinese leadership was not aware of the balloon going off course.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
Map
Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.
Runways (0)
No runway data recorded for this airport.
Airspace in this area(5)
| Name | Class | Type | Floor | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANYA | Special use | FIR | GND | FL999 |
| ZJSYAR02 | Special use | Type 27 | 4270 m MSL | 12599 m MSL |
| ZJSYAP02 | Special use | CTR | GND | 6000 m MSL |
| ZJSYAR01 | Special use | Type 27 | GND | 12500 m MSL |
| ZJSYAR04 | Special use | Type 27 | GND | 9800 m MSL |
Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all China airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.
Nearby airports
Great-circle distance and true bearing from Hele Balloon Launch Facility.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hele Balloon Launch Facility located?
Hele Balloon Launch Facility is balloonport located in Wanning (Hele), China.
What time zone is Hele Balloon Launch Facility in?
Hele Balloon Launch Facility is in the Asia/Shanghai time zone (UTC+08:00).
What is the magnetic variation at Hele Balloon Launch Facility?
The magnetic variation (declination) at Hele Balloon Launch Facility is approximately 2.1° W, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.
What airports are near Hele Balloon Launch Facility?
The nearest airport to Hele Balloon Launch Facility is Qionghai Bo'ao Airport (BAR), about 12.2 nm to the n, followed by Lingshui Air Base and Haikou Jiazi Airport.
Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?
No. Hele Balloon Launch Facility data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.