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?

2024 German-French Balloon Kids Camp: Adventure Above and Beyond

By Marvin Wittschen, Camp Coordinator

From October 30 to November 3, 2024, the skies above Reimlingen, Bavaria, played host to an unforgettable cultural and aerial adventure. The German-French Balloon Kids Camp, supported by the French-German Youth Office (FGYO) and the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA), brought together 19 young participants aged 8 to 14. Thirteen children came from Germany, while six traveled from France, creating a vibrant and diverse group.