Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017

# Content Page 1 Exhibit Explores the Science, Power, and Beauty of Weather 2 2 Balloon-powered Internet Reaches Tens of Thousands in Hurricane-Hit Puerto Rico 4 3 Results for America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, 2017 6 Balloonists Break Many Records in Exciting Race; Nicolas Tièche and Laurent Sciboz 4 8 Win America’s Challenge 5 Balloonists Locked in Tight Race Across America 12 6 Interview with Jerry Copas: Aviator and Author 13 7 A Gripping Story of America’s Great 16 8 2017 World Long Distance Balloon Championship Results 19 9 Gas Ballooning FAQs 21 10 French Pilots Win World’s Prestigious Gas-Balloon Race 23 11 21 Gas Balloon Teams Race Across European Skies 25

Office Location: Maryland, USA Contact Information: Ms. Sitara Maruf Phone: (240) 426-2040 Emails: [email protected] [email protected]

Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017

1) Exhibit Explores the Science, Power, and Beauty of Weather Lab is also a place where they’ll learn about the technology of weather Weather forecasting,” says Garver. by Sitara Maruf, 10th Nov 2017 In addition to weather forecasting, visitors can change atmospheric elements in virtual simulation pods and experience how those changes impact weather patterns.

The unique design and artistic elements of each pod gives a feel for the weather element housed within. For example, when visitors enter the precipitation pod, the lighting and design creates an illusion of a rain curtain under a cloud.

“The Weather Lab also highlights two weather-related conditions that are important to Albuquerque – but for very different reasons – ‘The Box’ and fire weather,” said Garver, where visitors learn Science and technology stories relating to other thing that’s been surprising is just how about seasonal fires and how widespread humankind’s exploration of the weather are much time people spend in here. The forest fires influence weather patterns. very interesting, and the immersive 2,000- square-foot “Weather Lab” that opened recently at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, in New Mexico, gives visitors an inspiring view of the inextricable relationship between weather and humanity.

The exhibit features several educational and interactive weather pods to educate visitors about the sun, wind, clouds, precipitation, and storms. With artifacts, interactive touchscreens, videos, and nearly 50 text and image panels, visitors can learn about the science and technology behind our understanding of the weather and in computer simulations, they can also launch their hot air balloons in the “Albuquerque Box” and watch them soar over the city.

“I think we’ve surprised a lot of people with the look, feel, and the depth of the exhibition,” The one-of-kind design of The Weather Lab houses a story told through artifacts, images, said Museum Manager, Paul Garver. “The video, text and replicas. (All photos courtesy of AAIBM) 2/27

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The “Albuquerque Box” is a set of predictable wind currents that make Albuquerque an ideal place to hold the world’s largest ballooning event every year. At lower elevations in the Rio Grande Valley, where the city sits, winds move South. At higher altitude, winds move North. So, balloon pilots take off from Balloon Fiesta Park, drift into the valley, catch the opposite wind current and float back to land near the place they started.

Moreover, using computer simulations, visitors can also design their hot air balloons to launch into the Albuquerque Box. They can learn how the balloon’s design and weight respond to circulating winds, and they can launch their balloon on the projected flight path and watch it rise and float over the city. Passing through the Precipitation Pod, visitors will learn about rain, freezing rain, sleet, “What you experience on the field is so hail, and snow. enchanting, and the museum and the Weather Lab give visitors the chance to explore and participate in the joy that is hot air ballooning,” says Garver.

The Weather Lab is part of the Balloon Museum’s efforts to expand (STEM) science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, and Mayor Richard Berry notes the possibilities for students. “This outstanding achievement is a new resource that adds to Albuquerque’s capacity to develop, support and attract STEM talent. It is another example of what makes Albuquerque such an innovative city,” said Mayor Berry.

Designed and built by University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning, the Weather Lab cost $450,000. Most financial help came from state funds,

the city, and from the International Balloon Test out your design and flying skills by launching a hot air balloon into the famous Museum Foundation. Albuquerque Box. This interactive is one of six in The Weather Lab. 3/27

Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017

Ideum, New Mexico Highlands University, Foundation and Board of Trustees. University of New Mexico Fab Lab Museum address: 9201 Balloon Museum NE, instructors and students, Design Group, just west of Jefferson and north of Alameda. Facility Build, General Contractor, Simone Seagle and the Balloon Museum Balloon Museum 2) Balloon-powered Internet Reaches Tens of Thousands in Hurricane-Hit Puerto Rico by Sitara Maruf, 3rd Nov 2017

The Sun Pod is where visitors will learn how the Sun powers Earth’s weather and affects seasons.

The museum is a 61,000-square-foot high- bay building with a tensile fabric roof and a balloon-like feel and overlooks the 365-acre Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park and the launch field.

The world-class museum has many models and educational exhibits, representing the first balloon journeys in 1783 to the actual balloon gondolas and capsules used by pilots on their record-breaking flights. Two weeks after Hurricane Irma slammed to the nearest balloon from a into the Caribbean islands, Maria, a telecommunications partner on the ground, category 4 hurricane, devastated Puerto transceivers on the balloons, transmit Rico on September 20th, and knocked out connectivity from ground stations, across the island’s cell phone towers and electrical balloons, and back down to users’ LTE grid. The destruction left 3.4 million people phones—allowing basic access to the without power or cellphone reception. As Internet and text messaging service. several companies scramble to repair the The high-altitude balloons are part of infrastructure, some help in communication Project Loon that was set up in 2013 by technology has come from above–from Google’s parent company, Alphabet. The huge jellyfish-like balloons, that ride company hopes to deliver internet stratospheric winds, 20 km above the connectivity to rural and remote areas The Weather Lab is an immersive, 2,000- Earth’s surface. (about 13 ; 66,000 around the world by creating a network of square-foot exhibition at the Balloon feet) stratospheric balloons in those regions to Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. These tennis court sized balloons are serve as cell phone towers. Loon balloons Individuals and organizations involved in serving as floating cell phone towers, as sail on winds in the stratosphere, to extend the conception, construction and they carry portable cell tower components. the reach of a telecommunication completion of the Weather Lab, include When high speed internet is transmitted up company’s networks into areas that are

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Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017 unconnected. While still in its infancy, the project is managed by Alphabet’s division X –devoted to futuristic technology —and has found appropriate use in disaster zones, for the second time.

A Loon balloon getting ready to take flight to Puerto Rico from the launch site in Nevada (Project Loon)

X redesigns essential cell tower components by making them light and durable enough to be carried by a balloon 20 km up in the stratosphere. (All photos courtesy of Project Loon)

“Over the last week, Project Loon has delivered basic Internet connectivity to tens of thousands of people in Puerto Rico,” says an October 27th tweet by “The Team at X.”

According to Alphabet spokeswoman Libby Leahy, the Federal Communications Commission granted an experimental license (pdf) on October 7th, to send 30 balloons for up to six months, to serve hard- Loon’s first pilot test in New Zealand in 2013 (Project Loon) hit areas in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. machine learning powered algorithms to As we get more familiar with the constantly keep balloons clustered over Puerto Rico, shifting winds in this region, we hope to “This is the first time we have used our new so we’re still learning how best to do this. keep the balloons over areas where

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Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017 connectivity is needed for as long as bring digital connections in a disaster- kilomete rs, theoretically, two to three possible,” says Alastair Westgarth, head of struck region was in May, when Peru was balloons could cover the island, as each Project Loon, in a blog post. battered by extreme rains and flooding. balloon has a coverage area of 5,000 square Then Project Loon deployed the balloons kilometers. However, navigating these Westgarth admits that Project Loon is still for the first time; but, the company had balloons on wind currents in the an experimental technology and the team is already been experimenting with stratosphere is not easy, and it’s not an not quite sure how well it will work. telecommunications partner Telefonica in exact science. Also, at any given time, few AT&T and T-Mobile are collaborating with Peru. balloons could be off course, so in practice many more balloons are needed for constant Alphabet’s balloon-powered connectivity In Puerto Rico, which is 9,104 square in Puerto Rico and providing their and reliable coverage. customers who have LTE-enabled devices, with basic Internet access and texting. In addition, satellite company SES Networks and cable provider Liberty Cablevision also provided the ground infrastructure, so the balloons could get Internet connectivity. The team works closely with aviation authorities and air traffic controllers to fly the balloons from Alphabet’s launch site in Nevada to Puerto Rico. Though this is the second time that Project Loon has been launched to restore basic Original navigational model shows rings of balloons sailed around the globe. As one communication, the venture in Puerto Rico balloon drifted out of range of a specific region, another would move in to take its place. is of paramount importance, as the (Project Loon) company had not carried out any connectivity experiments with telecom 3) Results for America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, 2017 partners there. “We’ve never deployed by Sitara Maruf, 14th Oct 2017 Project Loon connectivity from scratch at such a rapid pace,” says Westgarth.

A Loon balloon on its way to Puerto Rico from Nevada (Project Loon)

The company’s first real experience to

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Place Teams Pilots Distance Duration Landing Location 2,280.9 miles 1 Team 6, Switzerland Nicolas Tièche / Laurent Sciboz 59h 19m Labrador City, Canada 3,670.76 km 2,191 miles Quebec and New Brunswick, 2 Team 4, Poland / USA Kryzstof Zapart / Andy Cayton 69h 04m Canada 3,526.06 km

1,939.3 miles 3 Team 1, USA Peter Cuneo /Barbara Fricke 60h 13m Brighton, VT 3,121.82 km

1,609.5 miles 4 Team 3, USA Mark Sullivan / Cheri White 61h 56m State College, PA 2,590.31 km

1,186.6 miles 5 Team 8, France Benoît Pelard / Benoît Péterlé 57h 08m Indianapolis, IN 1,909.71 km

1,103 miles 6 Team 2, USA Phil Bryant / Mike Emich 44h 09m Terre Haute, IN 1,775.11 km

1,099.5 miles Wilhelm Eimers / Sebastian 7 Team 5, Germany 46h 53m Wausau, WI Eimers 1,769.42 km

820.6 miles 8 Team 7, USA Bert Padelt / Noah Forden 36h 02m Ogden, IA 1,320.56 km

America’s Challenge 2017—Highlights of the Gas Balloon Race

1. Two teams shatter America’s Challenge distance record of 1998.1 miles (3,215.5 km) and also the Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett (the World Championships) distance record of 2,112.9 miles (3,400.39 km) 2. Seven out of eight teams crossed the 1000- mark; the eighth team reached 819 miles 3. No team landed on the first day; the first landing was at 36 hours and 16 minutes 4. The minimum non-stop flying time was 36 hours 02 minutes and maximum duration was 69 hours 04 minutes.

Source: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/news/596/443/Swiss-Team-Unofficial-Winners-of-Americas-Challenge

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4) Balloonists Break Many Records in Exciting Race; Nicolas climbing out of Minneapolis Air Space,” says Troyer, feeling very proud of the Tièche and Laurent Sciboz Win America’s Challenge victory. “That Jet stream was the result and by Sitara Maruf, 14th Oct 2017 boundary of a cold airmass flowing south over Canada and the warm air surge of ex- hurricane Nate over the Northeast US and southeastern Canada.”

America’s Challenge 2017 before launch (Courtesy of Noah Forden)

Updated 16th October 2017 minutes. At times, their balloon picked In the end, however, a frontal wave near speeds of 88 mph (140 kph). They flew over east of Labrador City proved more intense Gas balloon teams taking part in the 2017 Lake Superior–the largest freshwater lake than initially thought, with stronger snow America’s Challenge–a distance race for in the world– and landed in a remote area and rainfall. Nevertheless, pilots, Sciboz gas balloons–broke many records in an near Labrador City, by Labrador and and Tièche, decided to continue and intense and exciting race that kept witnesses Quebec, in Canada. showed great piloting skills. on the edge until the last team landed after a 69-hour-04minute flight, on Tuesday, “We crossed the big lake, roughly in the When they were near the end of their ballast 11th October. This Polish/American entry middle, and then you enter into Canada and (sand bags), they landed in a small clearing of Krzysztof Zapart and Andy Cayton there are just so few people per square of what seemed like a never-ending (Team 4) was the only team flying for seven kilometer. There is only forest and water, wilderness of trees, lakes, and biting, blowy more hours after all other teams had landed. and forest and water, and forest and water, snow. They covered 2,191 miles, displaced the and it is really amazing,” said Tieche, who second-position team to third place, and was taking part in America’s Challenge for looked as if they would also eclipse the the first time. Their ground crew of leading team’s distance, but fell 90 miles meteorologists and route mappers asked short of the winners. them to keep flying on the third night as they were on a fast wind track and closer to Eight balloon teams comprising two pilots setting a record. each, had taken off from Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday, 7th October around 9 The team’s meteorologist Wim De Troyer PM. The winners –tough international thanks ex-hurricane Nate for a superb competitors Nicolas Tièche and Laurent weather highway. “After using the classical Sciboz, of Switzerland (Team 6) –had nocturnal low-level jet of the Great Plains View from Sciboz and Tièche’s balloon as landed in the lead after setting the winning (70-100 km/h at 200 m above ground) we they fly over Canada (Courtesy of Laurent mark at 2,280.9 miles in 59 hours and 19 were able to catch the Jet Stream (strong Sciboz) high-level wind) over Wisconsin, just after 8/27

Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017

When local fire chief Joe Power heard on the phone that Swiss balloonists had landed in his town, he thought it was a prank call. Thankfully, the news registered, and a helicopter was sent to get them out of the wilderness and the balloon was retrieved the next day.

Laurent Sciboz and Nicolas Tièche record-setting flight of 2,278 miles took 59 hours 35 minutes (Courtesy of Laurent Sciboz) View from Sciboz and Tièche’s balloon as they fly over Kansas (Courtesy of Laurent Sciboz)

The Swiss team had set a near impossible target of 2,280.9 miles ( 3,670.76 km), and though runners up Zapart and Cayton came up 90 miles short, both teams have beaten the distance records in America’s Challenge and Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, the world championships of races. Their distances achieved far exceeds the America’s Challenge record of 1,998.1 miles (3,215.5 km), set in the year 2000 by the late David Levin and his brother Alan, and the Gordon Bennett record of 2,112.9 miles (3,400.39 km), set by Bob Berben and Benoît Simeons of Belgium in the 2005 race, which launched from Albuquerque.

Zapart and Cayton (Team 4) maintained the thrill and suspense for seven more hours after all other teams had landed and at America’s Challenge 2017, Andy Cayton and Krzysztof Zapart flew almost 69 hours and several points their balloon also picked a achieved second place with 2,185 miles (Courtesy Krzysztof Zapart FaceBook) blistering pace of about 70 mph (112 kph). When tracking signal for their flight stopped on Tuesday, about 4 PM MDT, 9/27

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According to Forden, they terminated the flight for different reasons. “We landed

because this was a brand new balloon on its maiden voyage, and we didn’t want to take a chance damaging it. We were concerned about the potential to cross Lake Michigan at night,” said Forden.

Albuquerque from Forden and Padelt’s balloon (Courtesy of Noah Forden)

The eight teams in this year’s race came from USA, Poland, France, Germany and (Courtesy of Wim De Troyer /Laurent Sciboz) Switzerland. The balloon pilots taking part onlookers were hoping that it was a endurance, but the fact that Cuneo and in these races are among the best in the technical glitch and they were continuing to Fricke won America’s Challenge last year world, and flying a gas balloon non-stop for fly, as they were so close to the winning with 867 miles, is also evidence that the three days and nights, is a risky mark, but they landed just 90 miles short, at race depends on many variables and undertaking, reserved only for the the border of Quebec and New Brunswick weather is a crucial factor. adventurous spirit. The challenge in these in Canada. They crossed St. Lawrence races is to find the wind track that will help Soon after launch in Albuquerque, all eight River in the last few hours of flight, and them reach the maximum distance and teams had taken off toward the northeast their duration of 69 hours 04 minutes is direction and an intensely competitive race avoid trajectories that would run into harsh laudable considering that a typical duration weather. began to develop. After 24 hours they were in these races is 50 to 65 hours. scattered in six states, but in terms of Winners get a trophy but there is no prize Defending champions, Barbara Fricke and distance, they were close. Seven out of money associated with America’s Peter Cuneo of the U.S. (Team 1) who took eight balloons were separated only by 80 Challenge; however, the first three teams the lead several times from the Swiss team, miles, and the first and second teams were qualify to compete in the Gordon Bennet thus adding to the excitement, achieved an only five miles apart! Cup. In these races, duration is not a factor, admirable distance of 1,939.3 miles in 60 and winners are determined solely on In the 2005 America’s Challenge, the hours and 13 minutes and were second weather pattern was similar and seven out distance traveled. when they landed, but had to settle for third of 12 teams had crossed the 1000-mile place, when Team 4 earned the second mark. This year, too, seven teams flew more place. than 1,000 miles and the team that landed These long-distance non-stop gas balloon after reaching 820.6 miles was USA’s races test the pilots’ skills, courage, and Noah Forden and Bert Padelt (Team 7).

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Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke are four-time winners. They secured third place this year. (Courtesy Kim Vesely, America’s Challenge 2016) America’s Challenge, 2017-Noah Forden and Bert Padelt don the anti ejection harnesses and get ready to land (Courtesy of Noah Forden)

This year’s race will be remembered for the records, the intense competition, and the picture-perfect launch witnessed by thousands of people from Balloon Fiesta Park, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Albuquerque Fiesta from Forden and Padelt’s balloon (Courtesy of Noah

Forden) Bert Padelt with his breakfast——smoked salmon, crackers, coffee, and freeze dried strawberries at 7000 ft over west Texas. (Courtesy of Noah Forden)

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5) Balloonists Locked in Tight Race Across America meteorologists, and the ground support team. During day, the gas warms up, and by Sitara Maruf, 9th Oct 2017 the balloons rise higher. The challenge for each team is to find the fastest weather highway that will lead them ahead of the competitors. Safety is the main concern and teams avoid harsh weather. Balloons cannot be steered, but pilots change direction by changing altitude to find a favorable wind current.

As of this writing, it’s been more than 38 U.S. (Team 1) has also snatched the lead hours since eight teams took off on their gas from the Swiss duo (Team 6), who in turn balloon journey across America. They regained the lead, overnight. The other six launched on 7th October 2017, Saturday teams have also been separated by 15 miles around 9 PM, from Fiesta Park in to 100 miles at different points in the race! Albuquerque, New Mexico. One team has landed. The teams have spent two cold This morning, the Command Center nights in an open basket and are scattered received word that Team 7, the USA’s across four states in the Midwest, but in Noah Forden and Bert Padelt, made a safe terms of distance, it seems to be a tight landing about 7:30 AM MDT (1330Z) near contest for the first three positions. Ogden, IA, just west of Ames. The oldest form of flight–balloon and the The America’s Challenge is a cross country basket–fascinates many people. Philip The leaders have been clocking a blistering Bryant and Mike Emich taking off in pace across the country at 50 mph (70 kph). gas balloon race in its 22nd year. One of the challenges for balloon pilots and their America’s Challenge 2016 Photo courtesy: The Swiss duo of Nicolas Tièche and meteorologists (who work from the ground) Kim Vesely. Laurent Sciboz (Team 6), have covered is to find the best wind track to fly as far as Each team has two balloon pilots. They sit 1138 miles and are flying over Wisconsin possible, without stopping. Whoever flies and “sleep” in an open wicker basket about toward the Great Lakes. Though defending the longest (straight) distance from the 5 feet by 3.5 feet. (Baskets are also made of champions Barbara Fricke and Peter Cuneo launch point, wins. other light-weight materials). Overhead is of the U.S. (Team 1) are flying close to their aircraft — a 1000 cubic meters Rockford, between Illinois and Wisconsin, Gas balloon pilots plot their next moves based on input from air traffic control, their (37,000 cubic feet) conductive fabric sphere they have covered 1124 miles! In this race, filled with hydrogen gas. It is capable of 12/27

Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017 lifting the basket, its two passengers, Before launch, the teams checked their skills as they fly nonstop at high altitudes instruments, sand bags used as ballast, and equipment and inflated the balloon with for days and nights, often over remote areas other essentials, and can stay aloft for days. hydrogen. Thousands of people witnessed and large water transits, harnessing the this year’s launch of the gas balloons. wind. Before the launch, each balloon is “weighed off” to make sure it is buoyant and will This year, America’s Challenge promises a safely clear the field. Each balloon with nail-biting finish! Good luck to all the their pilots are “walked” to the platform, so teams for a safe and pleasant race across the that they take off from the same spot, and in skies. keeping with the tradition, the national Please see live tracking website at anthem of each team’s country is played as http://www.balloonfiesta.com/gas- they launch. balloons/gas-tracking

Once the balloons are aloft, it is interesting or on the Balloon Fiesta free apps for to watch how the pilots and their weather Android and iPhone. person develop strategies to be on the fastest wind track. Of course, safety is the County that had not even seen an main concern. automobile before and then by the end of Even though ballooning technology has the day there were traffic jams!” says Jerry Copas, author of The Wreck of the Naval Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke are four- improved considerably and communication Airship USS Shenandoah, published last time winners. Photo courtesy Kim Vesely, is advanced, the race remains a real flying month by Arcadia Publishing. America’s Challenge 2016 adventure. It tests the pilots’ endurance and 6) Interview with Jerry Copas: Aviator and Author Copas is also a veteran balloon pilot, flight instructor, and LTA historian. He has flown by Sitara Maruf, 28th Sep 2017 over such varied landscapes as the Swiss Alps, Australian Outback, and the Arabian desert and spoken at numerous ballooning safety seminars and symposiums.

Copas will sign books and talk with visitors at the Soakum Fall Festival in Noble County, Ohio, from September 30 to October 1. Here, he shares his experiences as a writer and balloon pilot, with Sitara Maruf.

Your book, “The Wreck of the Naval Airship USS Shenandoah,” published on August 21st has an amazing compilation of images. That has a powerful impact.

Yes, and that is how it came to me. I was “What’s most intriguing about the 1925 of-the-art flying machine of the future, fell interested in things that fly. When I first crash of USS Shenandoah, America’s first into this rural, disconnected, unenlightened saw the photo of the Shenandoah wreckage, , is that the most modern state- part of America. There were roads in Noble in an elementary school library book, I 13/27

Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017 wondered how it got there and the story government monument; there were a lot of I have flown balloon all over the world in behind it. I wish I could recall the book. I other commemorations to that day and that many different situations, but that was a was fascinated with the story for many inspired me to meet some people in Noble very special flight considering what had years. County and make friends and that’s how it gone on in that very same airspace, where came to putting down in the book. her father gave his last full measure of devotion to our country. The day we flew, I started working on the book a couple it was a beautiful summer evening and the of years ago. There have been several sun was going down, a stark contrast to the fine books on the USS Shenandoah September 3, 1925 stormy night flight of before mine, and hopefully there will the Shenandoah. We had a nice landing in be many more, but I thought if I could the valley and dozens of people showed up do my part and keep the legacy alive and wanted to see inside the balloon and and keep people’s interest in the event, touch the basket. It was a distinct privilege it would be worth the effort. for me to meet her first of all, and then take me up on the offer for the balloon ride. It And later you took the captain’s was a highlight of my ballooning career. daughter, Peggy Lansdowne Hunt on a balloon flight? It seems that Noble County is still remote and rural, and people had not seen a hot Yes. She was three years old in 1925 air balloon? when her father died, so she vaguely knew him, but obviously she is familiar No, there is not much ballooning in Noble with his illustrious career. He was one County, but it’s a beautiful place to fly a of those few naval captains who balloon. Most of the people who came to literally went down with the ship and the basket knew about the Shenandoah, and that’s quite a distinction. The Navy they were very happy when they learned takes great pride in someone with that that Capt. Lansdowne daughter was in the degree of devotion. basket.

Had Peggy been on a balloon ride Did you talk with any surviving by Jerry Copas (Arcadia Publishing) before, and what was her reaction witnesses? 128 pages, paperback, $21.99 when you were flying in the area When I first started encountering people in So, when did you pick it up again and where the Shenandoah went down. Noble County, I met a couple of decide to write this book? No. I’m sure she had invitations, but I don’t eyewitnesses. They were children at the Lighter than Air history has always been a think so. She was in town for some time. And a couple of people did tell me that passion of mine, and over the years, I’ve dedication for the Shenandoah, but she had they were toddlers and they remember the collected a lot of books on ballooning, never visited the crash site before. The day of the accident. When I was taking , and memorabilia. It was in the 90s locals have made an outline with stones of Peggy Lansdowne on the balloon ride, in when my wife and I were traveling in the fallen airship. When the grass is mowed that photo on page 122 there is Brian southeast Ohio, I knew I was in the area you can see that outline from the highway. Rayner who grew up on the farm and the where the ship went down and wondered if We inflated the balloon inside this outline other one is Stanley Nichols. The nose anybody would know exactly what field where the ship lay, and I had brought along section came down on Nichols’ family that was. I found the field and it is well- 14 red carnations to toss out on the crash farm, when he was just a kid. maintained. There was a flag there and a site; she kept one in honor of her father. sign that locals have put up and an official

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discovered on a mustard plant, when she was pulling out a weed in the garden. She found that precious relic from the terrible accident all those years before.

I recall reading about his ring that it was rusty and had a scratch, but the ring that was returned was almost new.

Yes, that is intriguing. Some people are weary of that lady’s story. You know when the ship came down for the lack of a better term there was looting, and the fact that the captain’s class ring was missing was just scandalous at that time, and the family was wondering where could it be–he had it on all the time. By the way, when this lady found the ring it was 12 years after Shenandoah came down and also just a few weeks after the airship Hindenburg crashed.

The family had their suspicions, because his

ring had some previous damage and Capt. In June 1991, Peggy Lansdowne Hunt, daughter of Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Lansdowne, Lansdowne was very busy and never had accompanied the author on a balloon flight launched from crash site No. 2. Hunt was only time to repair it. After it was “found”, the three years old when her father died in the crash. Assisting with the balloon are Stanley damage had been repaired, so how could Nichols (left) and Brian Rayner (right). Nichols was a toddler when the bow section that be? And there were some people who landed on his family farm near Sharon, Ohio, but he could still recall his father grabbing said that she was fighting a guilty a rope and securing the wreckage to a tree. Rayner grew up on the former Neiswonger conscience all those years and the farm, tending the crash sites and amassing a significant collection of Shenandoah Hindenburg’s accident brought it back to memorabilia. (Courtesy of Jerry Copas) her again, so she thought maybe I should give this ring back to where it belongs. But How many images in the book? And any who knows all those stories have gone to content left out? the grave now. We will never know whether There are 156 images, and yes, lot of text that ring was stolen from the poor man’s and stories did not get included. There was body or that it fell off his finger in the yard. a balance between text and illustrations, and What was the most fascinating part to the series had a form to it and each book is you while writing this book? about 128 pages. I had to shorten a lot of other stories too, but the key ones they I’m fascinated by things that fly, and I make allowed me space. I wish I had a better my living off lighter than air. What’s most On August 8, 1924, the Shenandoah photograph of the woman who allegedly intriguing about this story is that the most became the first rigid airship to be moored found the captain’s class ring in the modern state-of-the-art flying machine of to a floating mast.(Courtesy of Navy vegetable garden and the neat part of the the future basically, fell into this rural, History and Heritage Command.) story was that, that class ring was disconnected, unenlightened part of

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America. There were roads in Noble flight when we have our balloon packed been flying balloons, and the impact of County that had not even seen an away, we have a champagne toast. I tell the airships and zeppelins. Less than a year and automobile before and then by the end of story of the Montgolfier brothers and how a half after the Lindbergh flight, the the day there were traffic jams! So, this was they invented hot-air ballooning and most Zeppelin Company began transatlantic such a contrast between old and new. Some people are very surprised to know that was service for civilians with luxurious of them knew what an airship was, but 120 years before the Wright brothers flew staterooms, gourmet meals, and even many of them had no clue particularly those their airplane at Kitty Hawk. shoeshine service. Most people don’t who were just farming and living their daily realize that it had gotten quite far that along, So, anytime I get a chance to go talk to a lives and boom all of a sudden, the ship and many people are not aware about the school group or anybody about lighter than descends on their existence. They had never story of Shenandoah, but when they find seen light-weight metals, they had never air history, I tell them how long people have out, they show a lot of interest. seen airtight fabrics; so, the contrast between this old and new was so fascinating 7) A Gripping Story of America’s Great Airship by Sitara Maruf, 28th Sep 2017 to me and the impact it had on these people back then.

When did you take to hot-air ballooning?

I’ve always liked anything to do with aviation and flying. In my formative years in the 70s ballooning was becoming very popular and unless you’re a kid fortunate enough to live close to an airport, you cannot really get close to planes, helicopters, and things like that. But balloons land right in your schoolyard sometimes. And that’s what happened to me. I got to know some balloonists and I got my license to fly balloons in high school, and I have been doing that ever since. It has been a full-time job for me for years and my wife is a balloon pilot and my son who just started college also got his pilot’s license.

Is the average person aware of lighter Jerry Copas adds a new dimension with It was during one such publicity tour that than air history in America? I know most powerful images. the airship was caught in a violent storm over Noble County, Ohio, on September 3, of them know about hot air balloons as The USS Shenandoah was a 680-foot-long recreational balloons, but do people 1925. The ship was twisted and ripped with rigid airship and the pride of the American the debris falling on three crash sites. know that there is more to lighter than Navy in 1925. It was built to fly as a air history and ballooning? Fourteen men were killed, including Lt. scouting platform for the fleet at sea. But as Commander Zachary Lansdowne, who I don’t think enough people know about she proved her super flying capabilities, she remained at his post to the very end. lighter than air, as much as they do about was turned into a publicity tool, cruising Miraculously, twenty-nine people survived heavier than air. I fly passengers in my over cities and towns, where eager crowds the catastrophe. balloon every week and at the end of every waited for her glimpse across the skies. Jerry Copas’s book “The Wreck of the

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Naval Airship, USS Shenandoah” tells the story of America’s great airship and captures its epic tragedy with 156 images, text, and some extraordinary stories never published before.

Passionate about aviation, especially lighter than air (LTA) history, and a veteran balloonist and flight instructor, Copas felt inspired by the bravery and dedication of the crew. “In 1920s, they did not even have the benefit of a basic doppler radar that we have on our smart phones today, and they had no clue what lay ahead of them,” said Copas in an interview. He says he feels for the crew and for Capt. Lansdowne who had repeatedly requested the Navy to postpone the flight as Lansdowne was concerned about the late summer thunderstorms in Ohio. “I know he had reservations about On August 8, 1924, the Shenandoah became the first rigid airship to be moored to a that particular trip,” says Copas, “but they floating mast.(Courtesy of Navy History and Heritage Command.) followed through and some of them gave The foreword is written by Captain the last measure of their devotion to follow Lansdowne’s granddaughter Julia H. Hunt those orders and do what the country who was “thrilled” when the author invited wanted. It’s just very sad and they deserve her to do so. She notes: “I remember my their commemoration and their respect.” grandmother’s recollection of the day the Shenandoah embarked on her final journey. It was September 2, 1925, in the late afternoon in Lakehurst, New Jersey. As she watched the gleaming rigid zeppelin slowly emerge from Hangar One, my grandmother distinctly recalled feeling a sense of dread as the airship slowly took flight and faded into the distance.”

In the introduction, Copas briefly tells the One of the three crash sites — the story of the Shenandoah highlighting the Neiswonger farm. Salvage rights for the events prior to that fateful flight, Capt. wreckage were awarded to the Aluminum Lansdowne’s concerns, and the airborne Jerry Copas, author of “The Wreck of the Corporation of America of Pittsburgh for drama on that fateful night, which whets the 20¢ per pound. The contract stipulated Naval Airship USS Shenandoah,” is also a reader’s appetite. The story progresses veteran balloon pilot. that none of it would be sold as souvenirs. along four chapters and has a powerful After expenses, the Navy got about $3,000 impact with images. Each chapter opens In the chapter entitled, “An Airship for for the ship’s remains. (Courtesy of with a topic and then the images show and America” Copas discusses how the symbol Rayner Collection.) tell the story with interesting scenarios, of technological advancement was built, captioning, analysis, and context. tested, and christened. Shenandoah in 17/27

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Native American means “Daughter of the Stars.” She was the first rigid airship to get

lift from the safe helium gas and not the explosive hydrogen and was the first one to be moored on a surface ship’s mast proving the concept of replenishment at sea.

The Shenandoah flies up the California In 1937, the federal government erected a gleaming bronze and stone monument to the coast toward Tacoma, , on Shenandoah in Ava, Ohio. This photo taken in 1963 shows Peggy Lansdowne Hunt, October 16, 1924. (Courtesy of Navy daughter of Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Lansdowne. She was accompanied by Ohio congressman History and Heritage Command.) Bob Secrest. (Courtesy of Rayner Collection.) Copas relates how the ship’s notable accomplishments, including an epic 19-day journey across the United States, turned her into “A Publicity Tool” (title of chapter 2). It’s clear how the Shenandoah became a victim of politics and vested interests as much as a victim of that terrible storm.

In the third chapter, “The Morning After” Copas looks at the events of that tragic night on September 3, 1925 and what followed. He says, as a balloonist, he can somewhat relate to what he calls the “miracle” of the story where seven men brought the fragment of the ship down that was free ballooning at 8,000 feet into the heart of the storm, without engines or steering capability. “Even in that situation, they had their senses about them,” said Copas. “Much of the credit goes to Lieutenant Commander Charles Rosendahl, who took Captain Zachary Lansdowne’s ring was discovered almost 12 years after the accident. command and gave direction to six sailors. Faye Larrison found it on the stem of a mustard plant while weeding her garden at the old They slashed those gas cells and vented Gamary house. (Courtesy of Rayner Collection.) 18/27

Issue No. 8 Fall 2017 Sep - Nov 2017 some of that helium and made a controlled All photos reprinted from “Wreck of the descent and when they got closer, they Naval Airship USS Shenandoah” with dropped ballast and made a pretty good permission, by Jerry K. Copas (Arcadia landing in the middle of a rip-roaring Publishing, 2017) thunderstorm.” Rosendahl would retire with the rank of admiral in 1945.

In “The Shenandoah’s Legacy” he covers the court appearance of the captain’s young widow, Margaret Lansdowne, whose testimony “proved to be an embarrassment to Navy brass.” Copas reveals insights and stories from residents of Noble County, who were alarmed and amazed when this high-tech, state-of-the-art marvel descended on their rural and isolated community; some of whom were eye witnesses to the tragedy. While lavishing care and support on the wounded, many locals also looted the wreckage. “Due to the rampant looting, 20 Department of Justice by Jerry Copas (Arcadia Publishing) operatives were dispatched from 128 pages, paperback, $21.99 Washington. They collected four truckloads of wreckage items from private homes in 8) 2017 World Long Distance Balloon Championship Results the area,” writes Copas. by Sitara Maruf, 12th Sep 2017 One highlight is the captain’s missing Naval Academy class ring mysteriously found on a mustard plant at the crash site, 12 years after the accident. It was missing from his hand when his body was recovered from the wreckage.

The author’s interaction with the Lieut. Cmdr. Lansdowne’s daughter and granddaughter and also with Noble County residents, during his several visits to the site, adds a personal flair to the great airship’s epic tragedy.

Wreck of the Naval Airship USS Shenandoah is a gripping story with a new dimension and powerful images, for Twenty-one gas balloon teams took part in UTC from Epagny, Gruyères, Switzerland aviators and anyone else. the 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Race. They took off on 8th Source: World Air Sports Federation September 2017, between 17:30 and 18:33 (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI). 19/27

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Result Rank Team Pilots Landing Time (UTC) Location Duration Distance (km) Vincent LEŸS 1 FRA-1 Christophe HOUVER 10.09.2017 06:30 Võru (EST) 1’836.06 36h 20min Kurt FRIEDEN 2 SUI-1 Pascal WITPRÄCHTIGER 10.09.2017 16:58 Popowo (POL) 1’366.78 46h 35min Anulfo GONZALEZ 3 ESP-1 REDONDO 10.09.2017 16:20 Niećkowo (POL) 1’334.24 46h 19min Angel AGUIRRE RIAL Laurent SCIBOZ 4 SUI-2 Nicolas TIÈCHE 09.09.2017 20:09 Lawki (POL) 1’308.59 26h 13min Dr. Heinz-Otto LAUSCH 5 GER-2 Tobias LAUSCH 10.09.2017 13:25 Grabowo (POL) 1’282.62 43h 12min Himke HILBERT 6 GER-1 Dominik HAGGENEY 10.09.2017 14:11 Purda (POL) 1’248.29 44h 30min Thomas LEWETZ 7 AUT-2 Christian WAGNER 10.09.2017 15:25 Orneta (POL) 1’242.62 45h 21min Krzysztof ZAPART 8 POL-2 Bazyli DAWIDZIUK 09.09.2017 19:47 Bożęcin (POL) 1’214.87 26h 01min John Edward ROSE 9 GBR-1 Colin BUTTER 10.09.2017 07:11 Burztynowo (POL) 1’139.29 37h 41min Peter CUNEO 10 USA-1 Barbara FRICKE 09.09.2017 16:40 Mazowsze (POL) 1’110.78 22h 21min Benoît PÉTERLÉ Okoniny 11 FRA-3 09.09.2017 17:10 1’109.46 22h 44min Benoît PELARD Nadjeziorne (POL) Mateusz RĘKAS 12 POL-1 Jacek BOGDAŃSKI 09.09.2017 16:40 Barcino (POL) 1’103.77 22h 24min Jan SMRČKA 13 CZE-1 Ales VASICEK 09.09.2017 15:40 Lubraniec (POL) 1’076.78 22h 08min Pascal JOUBERT 14 FRA-2 Hervé MOINE 09.09.2017 17:31 Kruszwica (POL) 1’054.98 23h 53min Philippe DE COCK 15 BEL-1 Geert PEIRSMAN 09.09.2017 17:00 Barcin (POL) 1’044.88 23h 25min Dariusz BRZOZOWSKI 16 AUS-1 Steven GRIFFIN 09.09.2017 15:10 Szubin (POL) 1’044.16 21h 27min Walter GSCHWENDTNER 17 SUI-3 Max KREBS 09.09.2017 15:05 Konin (POL) 1’016.93 20h 32min Matthias ZENGE 18 GER-3 Benjamin EIMERS 09.09.2017 17:45 Pęczerzyno (POL) 999.29 23h 15min Saburo ICHIYOSHI 19 JPN-1 Komei HASHIMOTO 09.09.2017 11:46 Gutów (POL) 969.41 17h 57min Cheryl WHITE 20 USA-2 Mark SULLIVAN 09.09.2017 15:45 Osetnica (POL) 823.69 21h 53min Komza ROBERTAS 21 LTU-1 Danielius Augustas KOMZA 09.09.2017 13:55 Lipiany (POL) 815.53 19h 47min

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9) Gas Ballooning FAQs where an emergency landing could be a disaster. They even have to be careful not to courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, 11th Sep 2017 fly over certain countries, where political conditions could make them targets of hostile fire.

Bazyli Dawidzuik waves as the Polish team takes off in a gas balloon in America’s Challenge 2016. Photo courtesy: Kim Vesely

Gas balloons usually need more people to help with their launch than hot-air balloons. What makes gas balloons fly? Gas of the balloon that holds the hot air or gas is It takes about ten people to launch a gas balloons ascend because the gas inside is called the envelope. The basket that carries balloon, according to the Balloon less dense and lighter than the air on the the pilot and passengers is the gondola. Federation of America, and about half that outside of the balloon. Heating up regular With both types of lighter-than-air flight, number to launch a hot-air balloon. For a air makes its molecules expand, becoming pilots try to control their direction by taking competition, the gas pilots also use the lighter than the surrounding atmosphere. advantage of different wind currents at services of meteorologists who understand different altitudes. Both kinds of balloons their needs. The pilots’ strategies are That’s what causes hot-air balloons to lift are classified as aircraft by the U.S. Federal largely based on weather conditions. The off. Gas balloons used in races such as the Aeronautics Administration, and pilots only way they can “steer” a balloon is to Balloon Fiesta’s America’s Challenge use must get separate licenses to fly each type. either helium or hydrogen, both lighter- catch the best wind currents. than-air gases in their natural, unheated Gas balloon pilots typically started out So how have pilots flown around the state. But any gas that is lighter than air, flying hot-air balloons, and then decided world on even longer flights? including ammonia, will give a balloon they wanted to be able to fly farther, higher lift, meaning the ability to rise. and longer. Because gas balloons cost more Those flights are made in special, and rare, to fly, they usually aren’t flown as often. balloons called Rozier-type balloons, This article is reprinted — courtesy of named for the Frenchman who invented Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Their flights can last for days, unlike hot-air them around 1783. They use double —- flights, which usually last about an hour. envelopes containing both hot air and gas, How are gas balloons different from hot- Gas balloon pilots may prepare for months and they use a heater to gain more lift. air balloons? before a competition, and when they’re racing, they sometimes fly into dangerous First, they are alike in some ways. The part weather conditions or over open seas,

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How do gas balloon pilots decide which gas they will use?

They compare costs, availability, and safety. Helium is the most popular gas for competition in the United States because it isn’t flammable like hydrogen, and there is a good supply of it here. Balloons using helium don’t lose as much of their gas through diffusion. In Europe, most pilots use hydrogen because helium is much more expensive and difficult to get there. It costs roughly $3,500 to inflate a racing gas balloon with helium in the United States, and these balloons usually hold about 35,000 pounds of gas.

The cost of using helium in Europe would

be two or three times as high. It costs about Hot air balloon uses a propane burner to heat up the air. Photo:LtaFlightMagazine $1,000 dollars to inflate a racing balloon How are gas balloons launched and kept load is lighter. The process usually lasts up with hydrogen in the United States, but aloft? to three cycles in a competition. When all some pilots see using hydrogen as taking on the ballast is gone, the pilots have to land. extra risk. Ammonia costs less, but it has The gas balloon is inflated through a tube, only about half the lifting ability of helium called an appendix, and it takes hours for or hydrogen, so it’s not popular for the inflation to be completed. The appendix competition. stays open during flight to let excess gas escape and keep the balloon from bursting. What do pilots carry with them? Pilots make gas balloons rise by dropping They carry many things, but they try to keep weights, called ballast, from the balloon. them as light as possible, including Ballast is usually sand. themselves! (See equipment list for details.) The balloonists descend by letting some of Modern pilots can’t take off like the early the gas out of the envelope through a valve aeronauts, who flew mainly on nerve. The at the top of the balloon in a procedure basic instrument list now includes: called valving. There’s usually a cycle to a Altimeter – Measures altitude gas balloon flight. As the sun heats the gas- filled envelope, the balloon gets even more Variometer – Displays the rate of climb lift and can rise higher, to several thousand feet. Transponder – Used to let flight control centers monitoring airspace see the altitude At night, the gas inside the balloon cools and speed of the balloon. It also helps other off, and pilots drop bags of sand to keep aircraft see the balloon in clouds, darkness from hitting objects on the ground. Then as or near airports with an electronic signal. Grounded trucks dispense hydrogen to the sun rises and heats the envelope again, inflate gas balloons. Photo courtesy Kim the balloon gains even more lift since its Barograph – Used to record the balloon’s Vesely, America’s Challenge

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flight length and altitude during Pilots usually carry survival gear, in case win. competition. It documents the flight altitude they have to make an emergency landing, during specific time intervals. but not parachutes. They also carry easy-to- The win is the second for the pair flying eat food, warm clothes, maps, passports, together as a team – they also won in 2013, GPS – Global positioning system. This and a Porta Potty-type bathroom device. when they flew 1,402.42km after launching instrument helps track the balloon and give from France. Vincent Leys however has the pilots detailed information about their Reprinted courtesy of Albuquerque been in the winning team eight times. location. International Balloon Fiesta—

Aircraft radio – Used to communicate with flight service and the chase crew. 10) French Pilots Win World’s Prestigious Gas-Balloon Race Source: FAI, 11th Sep 2017

The landing. Photo courtesy: FAI

The win means that the 2019 Gordon Bennett Cup will launch from a location in France.

Established in 1906, the Gordon Bennett Cup was re-started for the modern era in 1983. Since then it has attracted many of the world’s top balloon pilots, providing a challenge unrivaled anywhere else in the ballooning world.

Source: FAI

Tracking at: http://yb.tl/gb2017fr

Source: FAI — The pair traveled 1,836.06km having launched on Friday 8 September 2017 from French balloon pilots Vincent Leys and Gruyères near Fribourg, Switzerland. Christophe Houver won the 61st Gordon Bennett Cup over the weekend of 8-10 By Sunday morning just five teams September 2017. The Gordon Bennett Cup remained in the competition. Only Leys and is the oldest and most prestigious gas- Houver managed to squeeze through the balloon race in the world. narrow airspace corridor between Kaliningrad and Belarus, giving them the

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61st Gordon Bennett Race – Balloon Tracks. Photo courtesy: FAI

Balloons prior to launch. Photo courtesy: FAI

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11) 21 Gas Balloon Teams Race Across European Skies control, who want to keep the air space clear for airplanes. by Sitara Maruf, 9th Sep 2017

countries took off from Gruyères airfield, in Switzerland to compete in the 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race. Each team consists of two qualified pilots. In gas balloon races, one of the challenges for the balloonists and their meteorologists (who work from the ground) Even though ballooning technology has is to find the best wind trajectory that would improved considerably and communication help them fly safely as far as possible. The is advanced, the gas balloon race is a great distance is measured in a straight line from challenge and adventure. It tests the pilots’ the launch field to the landing site, even if skills and endurance, as they fly nonstop at the balloons veer off in different directions. high altitudes for days and nights, often over remote areas and large water transits, Crews accompanied their teams to the harnessing the wind. launch platforms and each team took off with their national anthem being played. The challenge is severe for teams who will For the first time, in many years, the launch try to fly through the narrow passage took place in daylight and the 15,000 between Belarus and Kaliningrad towards enthusiastic spectators were able to enjoy Lithuania. the beautiful Swiss backdrop to the launch. Experts predict a tight competition with According to meteorologists, the winds at some very experienced pilots participating flying altitude are towards the northeast, 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett in the race. Team USA-1 represented by and will likely take the balloons over Launch -gas balloon race. All photos Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke earned Germany and then Poland. Flying gas courtesy of FAI, Marcus King. fourth place last year in the Gordon Bennett balloons over a long distance in Europe, competition; they have also been four-time Yesterday, 21 gas balloon teams from 13 involves many hassles with air traffic winners of America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race. 25/27

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Then there is the German team of Matthias Zenge and Benni Eimers. For the first time Benni will replace his father Willy who is nicknamed the “Record Man” after competing in the race 26 times with four victories to his name.

One French team FRA-1 includes Vincent Leys, already an eight-times winner.We can’t forget the Spanish team who finished third in 2016.

In the Gordon Bennett race, each country can enter up to three teams. Switzerland, Germany, and France have entered three teams this year. The other countries include Czech Republic, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Lithuania, the UK, Japan, Belgium, Spain, Austria and Australia.

Cheri White and Mark Sullivan from the United States make up team USA-2.

Twice world champions team SUI-1 Kurt Laurent Sciboz who earned second place in

Frieden and Pascal Witprächtiger and the 2016 are likely to be close contenders. local team SUI-2 of Nicolas Tièche and 26/27

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To find out more about the race:

Follow the race live at: gordonbennett.aero/livetracking

Official website: www.gordonbennett.aero www.facebook.com/Course.Gordon.Benne tt

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