Video Chats with Denny Floden, 1st World HAB Champion & John Davis, Albuquerque Ballooning Pioneer
By Debbie Spaeth, Chair, CIA PMR Subcommittee
In February 1973, the world came to Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA for the 1st World Hot Air Balloon Championship. The event was a success, and the details are shared in the series of stories on the FAI Ballooning website.
As part of an anniversary celebration of Switzerland's largest aviation sports association, small model aircraft were built and flown with boys and girls with disabilities. This event was supported by aeromodellers from various clubs in the region.
'The World Hot Air Balloon Championship Comes to the Land of Enchantment' - story 3
By Rebecca Prinster, Assistant Curator, Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
A piece of ballooning memorabilia has crossed continents to take up a new residence in the FAI Secretariat offices in Lausanne. The clock – decorated with a golden balloon on the glass casing – is a symbol of the firm friendship between two American balloon pilots, who also travelled to Switzerland during the ballooning careers: it was gifted by Connie Wolf to Tony Fairbanks, and has been donated to FAI by Tony's son, Michael, a balloon pilot and historian.
