Flying the High: Great weather propels pilots at 23rd FAI European Balloon Championship
Story by Jonathan Perron-Clow of the FAI Ballooning Commission's Public & Media Relations Sub-Committee
Task after task after task: Balloon pilots hard at work in Wieselburg, Austria
Story by Jonathan Perron-Clow of the FAI Ballooning Commission's Public & Media Relations Sub-Committee
Pilots woke up on the second day of the 23rd FAI European Hot Air Balloon Championship Wieselburg, Austria, to spectacular conditions and light winds. Their skills, patience and endurance were tested over two flights leading to nine tasks.
And they’re off! 23rd FAI European Balloon Championship takes to the sky
Story by Jonathan Perron-Clow of the FAI Ballooning Commission's Public & Media Relations Sub-Committee
A little bit of rain couldn’t hold back the 82 competitors assembled in Wieselburg, Austria at the 23rd FAI European Hot Air Balloon Championship. After the Opening Ceremony on Saturday 16 August 2025, on Sunday (after a brief weather delay), the pilots took off to commence their weeklong quest to determine the best pilot in Europe.
Hot air balloon competitions: your 5 "floating" questions answered!
Have you been entranced by the beautiful colours and graceful flights of hot air balloons, but wondered how an aircraft with no way of steering can enter a competition? You are not alone!
National, Continental and World Hot Air Balloon Championship events bring together top pilots who battle it out to complete the challenging competition tasks and gain enough points to make it to the podium. But what makes a pilot stand out from the crowd, how does scoring work, and exactly how do you become a champion in this air sport?
