by : Sabu Lchiyoshi

Michio Kanda and Hiro Takezawa flew over Mt. Naga Parbat, 8125m Pakistan on 14 October.

The balloon used was "MAMBO"; Cameron N-210 double skin; 5,950 cubic meters, AX-10, JA-A757. The pilots took off from Chilas, Northern Pakistan at 07:07AM PST (Pakistan Standard Time) on 14 Oct. The landing was carried out near Kel, at 10:15 PST near a Pakistan army base close to the Indian Kashmir border. This flight thus became the first hot air balloon flown over Mount Naga Parbat and the Pakistan Himalayas.

Maco Oiwa was responsible at take off and Masashi Kakuda was assisting the communications at Deosai Height 4000m above mean sea level. This was the expected landing site. The wind had shifted towards the South and so Masashi couldn't reach the landing site. But the radio and sat telephone Masashi was carrying worked well to assist quick recovery.

Their plan to fly over Mt. K2 as earlier planned was cancelled after flight attempts twice in the past two years. The reason is they failed to get permission from Chinese authorities to enter Chinese air space for this prop[osed third attempt. Thus they changed the plan to fly over Mt. Nanga Parbat.

Michio Kanda and Hiro Takezawa are the current World Duratin Record holders for AX-10 up to AX-15. Michio has established also AX-World Records for distnace and altitude.

We acknowledge with grateful thanks the assistance provided to us by:

Adventure Foundation, Pakistan
Indus International
Brigadier M. M. Karim, Pakistan
Mr. Sajjad Shah, Pakistan
Mr. Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, India
Pakistan Army
PIA
JAL