News

The Command Centre of the 63rd Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2019 - the FAI World Long Distance Gas Balloon Championship - in Montbéliard, France was buzzing.

The twenty competing teams in this race, from eleven countries, have been airborne for 24 hours with their second night approaching. They have completed their first night and would be committed to another day in their baskets to try to fulfil their strategic flight plans.

Michael Emich is an accomplished balloonist who has been pushing boundaries and records since the 1980s. He pilots both Hot Air and Gas balloons, and he has built his own balloons to further the pursuit of his goals. He was awarded this year with the prestigious FAI/CIA Sporting Badge, Gold with one Diamond, in recognition of his achievements.

Some 20 gas balloon crews from countries including Australia, Belgium, Spain, and – for the first time – Luxembourg have arrived in Montbéliard, France this week to take part in the legendary Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2019. The take-off is planned for this Friday 13 September.

August 2019 marks the 90 year anniversary of the first round-the-world airship journey, made by German pilot Dr Hugo Eckener and his passengers in the rigid airship, Graf Zeppelin.

The Graf Zeppelin was already famous, having already made a 71-hour, 6384.50km journey in 1928, making the FAI record books for distance and duration in an airship; records that still stand today.

Following FAI Ratification of 3 World Records, American pilot Kim Magee shares her story:
 
On Saturday, January 19, 2019, planning for over 10 months came together and I set out to achieve a record in a very small hot air balloon. The weather was going to be bitterly cold, -29°C on the surface and much colder aloft. Winds were light for a few thousand feet up from the surface, perfect for an altitude attempt. My goal was to climb to 15,000 feet (4570 meters) Mean Sea Level to obtain the FAI AX-02 world altitude record.