“CONFIRMED LANDING of France-1. Pilots Sebastien Rolland / Vincent Leys. All is fine. Crew at site. Landing happened at 20:08 4th September 2012.” by Markus Haggeney, Event Director of 56th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2012 04.09.2012 20:31
The winner team flew 1620,05 km.
Congratulations for Sebastian and Vincent.!
The Gordon Bennet Cup (or Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett) is the most famous aviation event in the world and is the ultimate challenge for balloon pilots and their equipment. The objectives of the race are simple: to fly the furthest distance from the start in the open wicker basket of a gas balloon.
This international gas balloon competition was initiated in 1906 by the adventurer and newspaper magnate James Gordon Bennett. In that year 16 balloons started from the gardens of the former Tuileries Palace in Paris. None of those present to see the event could possibly have imagined that the race would continue to be staged right into the 21st century.
The 56th race will take place in 2012, 106 years after that first race. The rules remain almost unchanged. The winner will be the team that flies the longest distance in a straight line between the start and the landing point. The actual distance flown and the time taken are of no significance. The competing balloons are allowed a maximum volume of 1050 cubic meters (about 37’080 cubic feet). The pilot and co-pilot must be the same nationality and their country must also be a member of the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale). Each country may enter a maximum of 3 teams. The winning country has the right to stage the next-but-one race, normally 2 years later.
All teams are airborne now. In time for the launch-sequence the moon lit friendly onto the scenery. While the brass-band was playing the national anthems live, competitors took to the sky high above Switzerland.
Launchtimes (local time)
The Slovenian National Championship 2012 is cancelled because not enough Slovenian competitors.
This year’s Slovenian National Championship in hot air ballooning will organize Ballooning Club Letimo at Trebnje from 4th ’til 7th of October 2012. We will use FAI loggers and the Event Director will be Zoltán Pálhegyi (HUN).
We invite the pilots, who would like to intend the championship or fiesta flights to send the filled entry forms as soon as possible and pay the entry fee until September the 14th 2012.
The winners of 20th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship:
Nick Donner takes home the gold with Johnny Petrehn in second. Yudai Fujita takes the bronze in third.
Rokas Kostiuskevicius (LTU) did impressive performance just before the World Championship. He was better more than 3000 points as the third and the second was his father.
What he can do on the World Championship what will start on next weekend?
1. Rokas Kostiuskevicius 21.136
2. Rymas Kostiuskevicius 20.901
3. D. Zarzycki 17.847
The last week held the 38th French Nationals in Olivet, Loiret.
1. Nicolas SCHWARTZ
2. Patrick LEGENDRE
3. Jean DONNET
I just got the great news: the organisers able hold the 9th International Balloon Meeting Senta 2012 in Serbia! The condition is same as earler: no entry fee but lot of fun and friends, free accomodation, meals and drinks.
If you interesting to participate then contact with us.
We had 19 tasks already. I asked for another card to make Blackjack. Task#20 is one of the most difficult for the pilots, Calculated Rate Of Approach Task. They have to arrive in right time in right place. The twenty first will be Fly On.
Let’s see who will be the Czech Champion in this year!
3rd Serbian Hot Air Balloon Open Championship & 9th Senta Cup will be on this weekend.