Mother Nature shines on Balloon Youth Camp in Germany
By Marvin Wittschen, Camp Organiser
This year’s German-French Balloon Kids Camp took place in Sonnenbühl, Germany with a total of 19 participants aged 8 to 14 from Germany and France.
Marking the 170th anniversary of Giffard's inaugural dirigible flight
By Ruth Wilson, CIA Alternate Delegate for Australia and Member of the CIA PMR subcommittee
History and anniversaries make good companions. On 24 September 1852, Frenchman Henri Giffard, an engineer and inventor, attached a small steam-powered engine to a huge propeller to move through air in a dirigible or airship for the inaugural flight. Records show his flight covered 17 miles (27km) travelling at 6mph (10kph).
Henri Giffard was 27 years old, and acclaimed earlier in that same year with inventing the steam injector.
Lift off at the 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship
The 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championships are underway in Murska Sobota, Slovenia. Becky Lewis is reporting from the competition:
