Balloon Adventures UAE in collaboration with Skydive Dubai officially broke two of the Guinness World Records. The first record broken was for the most skydivers to parachute from a balloon during the same flight is 40, achieved by Skydive Dubai, on the 10th of February 2013. The second record broken was for the most skydivers to parachute from a balloon simultaneously is 25, also achieved by Skydive Dubai, at the same day.
“We had no idea what will happen on the balloon, the balloon may be distorted, it may rock, we had no idea when the balloon will stabilize” said Raul Bocanegra, Skydive Dubai Desert Campus Manager.
The idea came to life when Mike Howard afrom Skydive Dubai suggested joining forces with Balloon Adventures UAE and use one of their big hot air balloons.
“It took us two weeks planning and preparing all the scenarios that might happen and our reaction to it, we needed the weather to be perfect to proceed,” explained Mike Howard Skydive Dubai Air Balloon Pilot.
The event took place in The Skydive Dubai Desert Campus Drop Zone, located in Mergam, 35 km away from Dubai city. One of the main problems that was faced was trying to find the skydivers when they landed, since there were 40 skydivers jumping they all had to land in different places to avoid any accidents. The Balloon Adventures pilot Peter Kollar (HUN) who was the main pilot of the balloon was also trained on parachute emergency and safety procedures for extra precautions.
“All records are meant to be broken” stated Bocanegra. All in all the whole process went well, two major world records were officially broken and the event proved to be an ultimate success.
Flight details:
- Pilot: Péter Kollár, chief pilot of Balloon Adventures Emirates, UAE and Balaton Ballooning Kft. Hungary
- Take off: 2013.02.10. 06:39
- Landing: 08:29
- Max altitude: 11.129 ft
- Max climbing: 1.870 ft/min
- Max descending: -1.083 ft/min
- Ballpon: Ultramagic N-500, 14.158 m3
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD BALLOON JUMP 2013 from Skydive Dubai on Vimeo.
Exclusive photos:
Guinness recorders before take off
8.000 ft
Second Guinness record 25 Skydivers jump simultaneously
Last jump by Mike Howard (GBR), hot air balloon pilot too
Maximum altitude 11.129 ft (3.392 m), Péter Kollár already alone
Péter Kollár the captain of Guinness Recorders hot air balloon just before landing
The CIA Plenary Meeting, held in Rio de Janeiro on March 22 and 23, has finally decided. The 21st FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship will be held in San Carlos/Brazil in 2013. This decision came along after long, difficult and tiresome discussions at the Plenary, but to the satisfaction of a majority of the delegates present. Competitors may now confidently start their preparations.
