The Darth Vader hot air balloon

The Darth Vader hot air balloon made an appearance at Star Wars: The Exhibition in Brussels last week.

Star Wars: The Exhibition gives visitors, movie lovers and Star Wars fans a unique opportunity to learn and discover some of the secrets behind the making of this epic Saga.

Made in 2007 (with permission from Lucasfilm), the Darth Vader hot air balloon took 8 weeks to plan and another 8 weeks to construct before becoming what it is today. At 86 feet high, 69 feet wide, and 78 feet in depth, the Darth Vader hot air balloon is no small item in the sky. Since its first flight in April of 2007, this balloon has made several rounds at hot air balloon festivals and special events worldwide (see some of the event photos here). A photo of the Darth Vader hot air balloon is currently one of the most popular photos on Yahoo! News.

Inflation of the Darth Vader hot air balloon on May 17, 2007.

Seriously, how awesome is this thing?