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FAI Announces Round-The-World Balloon Race
The race will start at a given place on the same day, and as far as possible at the same time. Detailed rules are being drawn up by experts in the FAI's International Ballooning Commission, but in essence the winner will be the first balloon to circumnavigate the globe and cross the meridian of the launch site. The FAI has teamed up with the international PR consultancy Fleishman-Hillard to develop plans for the event which will probably take place every four years. A magnificent trophy and a substantial cash prize is planned for the winner. The FAI's advisory committee includes Don Cameron, constructor of the triumphal Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon, and Alan Noble the operations director of the team that supported Piccard and Jones during their global circumnavigation. The next planning meeting is scheduled for Friday 9 April, in London, after which further details will be announced. The great balloon race could become to balloonists what the Whitbread is to yachtsmen. It will certainly be a magnificent spectacle. For further information contact: Federation Aeronautique Internationale
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Following the pioneering round-the-world flight of Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon, the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) has confirmed that it is planning to organise a Round-the-World Balloon Race, probably in 2002 in the northern hemisphere.
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Vendor Applications Now Available For 1999 Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The 1999 Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is now accepting vendor applications from companies and individuals wanting to sell their products at the 28th annual event occurring October 2nd through the 10th. The deadline for vendor applications is Friday, April 2, 1999. Anyone wishing to participate as a vendor needs to submit an application to the Balloon Fiesta offices no later than 5pm, Friday, April 2, 1999. Ten feet of frontage concession space starts at $2,500 for non-food vendors and $3,000 for food vendors. Full details, regulations and an application are listed in the 1999 Vendor Handbook, available by calling the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. at (505) 821-1000. During last year’s Balloon Fiesta, more than 90 different vendors sold a variety of food items and merchandise to Fiesta attendees. Last year’s food vendors included everything from breakfast burritos and pizza to salmon and a variety of coffee blends. Merchandise included a wide range of Balloon Fiesta souvenirs, pins, gift items and fine art. The Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is ballooning’s largest and most spectacular event attracting a million visitors each year. The 1999 Fiesta, Beat Gravity, is scheduled for October 2nd through October 10th.
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1999 Gordon Bennett Cup To Be Held In Albuquerque
The 1999 Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has been selected to host the most prestigious event in gas ballooning, the Coupe de Gordon Bennett (also known as the Gordon Bennett Cup). Albuquerque was selected from an international field to host the distance competition. It will occur during the 28th annual Balloon Fiesta scheduled for October 2-10. This year’s Gordon Bennett gas balloon competition will host approximately 26 teams representing nearly a dozen countries. "This is a tremendous victory for Albuquerque to host this event," said Event Director Steve Shope. "Our track record of success hosting the America’s Challenge and World Gas Balloon Championships, played very heavily in securing this event. Balloon teams can fly record-setting distances from Albuquerque." In the Gordon Bennett, balloon pilots compete to travel the greatest distance from the launch point. The balloons are gas balloons filled with helium. Teams from around the world compete in this test of skills and strategies. During the last Gordon Bennett Cup held in 1997, a French team won first place after travelling 1732.5 kilometers. This famous balloon competition traditionally takes place in the country of the previous year’s winning team. Last year’s race was to take place in Paris, France, but was cancelled due to bad weather. This allowed the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) to entertain bids for host sites for this year’s race. The United States was one of several countries submitting bids to host the race. Those responsible for bringing the race to the United States and New Mexico include: Mark Sullivan, U.S. ballooning delegate to FAI; Troy Bradley, Balloon Federation of America’s Gas Balloon Division; and Steve Shope, Event Director. The Gordon Bennett Cup, the oldest aviation event in the world, is officially controlled by the FAI. Mark Sullivan, U.S. ballooning delegate to FAI, said, "We really owe a debt of gratitude to the delegates from the other countries that helped us to secure this event." The team that attended the meeting with Sullivan in Lausanne, Switzerland includes Ruth Wilson, Australian Delegate; Gary Lockyer, Canadian Delegate; and Markus Haggeney, German Delegate. The 1999 Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will attract more than 850 hot air and gas balloons. This year’s event, themed "Beat Gravity," is scheduled to take place October 2nd through October 10th.
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1999 CIA Conference
Thirty countries were represented at the 1999 International Ballooning Commision Conference held in Lausanne Switzerland from 3 to 6 March. This remarkable diversity of committment to Sport Ballooning was symbolised by the two Round the World Balloon Teams who were flying during the Conference. The Conference recognised the efforts of all the Round the World (RTW) Teams for stretching human scientific, technical, physical and emotional boundaries in a way not seen since the successful journies to the top of Mount Everest and to the North and South Poles. The journey around the world non stop in a balloon will be a remarkable achievement, ranking along side the other great journies of human history. The Ballooning Commission of the FAI wishes all the teams, safe and successfull flights in 1999 and hopes to congratulate the winning team in 2000. In recognition of the importance of these flights the Conference voted to establish a new "Great Balloon Race" RTW Competition. This event would only staged every four years involving a single flight round the world. A small group of eminent balloonists including Don Cameron and CIA President John Claude Weber has been tasked to develop this concept for discussion at next years Conference. The Conference also recognised the importance of the 2nd World Air Games, sanctioning Hot Air Balloon, Air Ship, and Gas Balloon Championships to be staged in Spain in 2001. There will also be a Hot Air Balloon Fiesta event. The WAG also focussed the Conference's attention on the need to promote sport ballooning and encourage new participants in our sport. One of the key outcomes of the Conference was the re-organisation of the Public Relations and Development Committee, and the establishment of a new Working Group for Media Affairs. The Conference also enhanced the ability of the Event Planning and Advisory Service. This committee is now able to assist any event organiser to stage a safe, fair and enjoyable competition or fiesta event. The new EPAS would welcome communications with organisers and pilots from around the world who would like assistance. All communications within the Commission are now fully integrated into the FAI Home Page on the Internet. www.fai.org/ballooning/. Using this internet site the Ballooning Commission has made all organisers sanctions, rules and safety documents available free of charge. Email is now the official method of communicating within the Ballooning Commission of the FAI. Please visit the site and look around. Some other important issues arising at the Conference are:
With the committment and effort of the elected Bureau and delegates from around the world, the Ballooning Commission of the FAI looks forward to the challenges of the new millenium. Darryl Stuart
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1999 World Honda Grand Prix
26 teams participated in the 1998 Grand Prix and Magic Racer team, Joe Heartsill and Uwe Schneider, won approximately 40,000 USD, through three events, in USA, Luxembourg and Japan. The 1999 HONDA Grand Prix will be competed in the same towns and events and 30 teams are invited. The entry closing date is 31st March 1999. If you have an interest, please go to the following WEB page: http://www.sphere.ad.jp/sagincom/balloon/worldhonda or write to Masashi Kakuda: mkd@mbd.sphere.ne.jp Finally, the second round and the final round of this Grand Prix are sanctioned by FAI First Category Event, at the CIA Meeting, Lausanne, two weeks ago.
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