Category Archives: rules

Gordon Bennet Cup 2012 with 17 balloons started yesterday evening

Gordon Bennett Cup 2012The 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)

  1. AUT 2, Scherzer / Wagner: 22:27
  2. GER 1, Lausch / Lausch: 22:30
  3. FRA 2, Pelard / Peterle: 22:34
  4. RUS 1, Tyukhtyaev / Grishin: 22:41
  5. ESP 1, Gonzalez / Aguirre: 22:46
  6. USA 1, Fricke / Cuneo: 22:50
  7. GBR 1, Hempleman-Adams / Carey: 22:53
  8. SUI 2, Mattenberger / Krebs: 22:57
  9. AUT 1, Stuerzlinger / Herndl: 22:59
  10. GER 2, Hora / Löschhorn: 23:02
  11. FRA 1, Rolland / Leys: 23:06
  12. USA 2, Cayton / Manuel: 23:10
  13. GBR 2, Wood / Rose: 23:13
  14. SUI 1, Frieden / Witpraechtiger: 23:17
  15. GER 3, Eimers / Zenge: 23:21
  16. USA 3, Sullivan / White: 23:25
  17. SUI 3, Gschwendtner / Gerber: 23:30

Live tracing here.

Czech National Championship 2012, Radesín (updated)

Czech National Balloon Championship 2012, RadesinThe Czech National Championship 2012 will start tomorrow in Radesín. We are waiting 14 pilots. The first Spanish pilot Blai Carbonell Rodriguez will participate on the Event too. Ther organisers are did great job and we have target list too already. We have  a night the enjoy the excellent Czech beer.

The following documents are available: 

Schedule

  • Tuesday, 26th June
    • free training evening flight
  • Wednesday, 27th June
    • free training morning flight
    • registration for competition 9:00-13:00
    • general briefing 14:00
    • first competition evening flight
  • Thursday, 28th June
    • morning and evening competition flights
  • Friday, 29th June
    • morning and evening competition flights
  • Saturday, 30th June
    • morning and evening competition flights
    • closing ceremony
  • Sunday, 1st July
    • free flight or spare competition flight and closing ceremony
    • departure of team


Rules of 1st Junior World Hot Air Balloon Championship

Rules of 1st Junior World Hot Air Balloon ChampionshipOfficial rules were approved and published. Now you can find all three sections of the rules. The rules sections I and II published at our site earlier, were edited a bit. Important change related with Section II regarding co-pilot appeared in II.16, therefore co-pilots will not be asked for their sporting licence at check in.
Minor changes in II.3 and II.12 appeared.

You may downlod the rules from here.