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WORLD SKY RACE ------A RACE FOR THE PLANET, A RACRACEE FOR HUMANITY

The World Air League (“WAL”) is organizing the inaugural World Sky Race (“WSR” or “RACE”), the first international competition for lighter-than-air-craft. It will be an epic and historic race of Zeppelins, blimps and skyships. The WSR adventure will consist of 15 or more individual stages back-to-back. Combined, the RACE route will establish the aviation record for the historic first global circumnavigation by lighter-than-air craft. Echoes from the past and calling to our future, the WSR is about living on our planet.

Beginning on the Greenwich Prime Meridian in London and returning to the Prime Meridian in Paris by landing at the Versailles Palace, the WSR Sky Teams will compete around-the-world for 180 days. The WSR will be more than 30,000 miles. The WSR will test the teams, the machines, their endurance and their daring.

As an agent of change, the RACE mission has evolved into being about delivering the GREEN message and promoting global and local sustainabilitysustainability.... The WSR will challenge inventors to focus their ingenuity on the development of sustainable technology focused on advanced lighter-than-air aviation.

To make this vision of change effective, the RACE will also be about EDEDUCATIONUCATION. The RACE will provide a unique and inspiring means to reach the next generation in their classrooms around-the-world by providing compelling images, stories and connections for lessons on geography, history, culture, science and the environment. Within our partnership mandates with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) the WSR will globally reach millions of teachers with lesson plans. For 180 days in the classrooms, the RACE will clearly demonstrate that “FunFun is a Renewable EnergyEnergy”.

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WORLD SKY RACE ------THE VISION, THE MMMISSIONMISSION

In 2006, the World Air League was formed to organize the World Sky Race.

“In the spirit of grace, goodwill and sportsmanship, the mission of the World Air League is to connect the global community through organizing competitions of lighter-lighter---thanthanthan----airair skyships” Don Hartsell, World Air League Founder and First Commissioner

Since its inception and to create the global alliances essential to fulfill this mandate, members of the World Sky Race administration and advisors have conducted more than 350 organizational meetings and site visits with local stakeholders in more than 55 countries on 6 continents.

The World Air League is building a notable global network of distinguished and committed to help realize the WSR mission and dream.

WORLD SKY RACE ------ADVISORY DIRECTORS AND FRIENDS OF THE WORLD SKY RACE

His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein Royal Patron for the World Sky Race in Jordan

Jean-Michel Jarre, WAL Artistic Director Artist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

His Excellency Dr. Taleb Rafai, Friend of the World Sky Race Secretary General United Nations World Tourism Organization

His Excellency Francesco Bandarin, Friend of the World Sky Race Assistant Director General United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Scott G. McNealy, WAL Education Advisory Director Former Chairman, Sun Microsystems; Founder of Curriki.Org

Norman Augustine, PhD, WAL Honorary Advisory Director Retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, Previously Chairman and Principal Officer of the American Red Cross, Chairman of the National Academy of Engineering, Chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association. He is a former President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Boy Scouts of America.

Harvey W. Schiller, Ph.D., WAL Honorary Advisory Director Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, GlobalOptions Group, Incorporated; Former President of Turner Sports, Inc., Former Executive Director and Secretary General of the United States Olympic Committee

Y.Bhg Dato' Seri Mohd Radzi b. Tan Sri Sheikh Ahmad, WAL Advisory Director and Malaysia Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Co-Chairman Former Minister of Home Affairs – Malaysia

James Fowler, WAL Advisory Director and New York LOC Representative Honorary President of the Explorers Club

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Mary Ellen Weber, Ph.D., WAL Honorary Advisory Director and Sky Team Captain Former Astronaut, Candidate for Membership in the Explorers Club

Richard M. Linnehan, D.V.M., M.P.A., WAL Advisory Director and Texas Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Representative Astronaut, Member of the Explorers Club

Paul Bierman-Lytle, WAL Advisory Director for Sustainability Pangaeon Managing Director Candidate for Membership in the Explorers Club

Alastair Gunning, WAL Advisory Director and United Kingdom LOC Representative Director, Lindstrand AeroPlatfroms, Ltd.

Professor John Provan, History Advisory Director and German LOC Representative Author, historian and skyship-expert

Robert J. Atwater, Security Advisor Life Fellow of the Explorers Club and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society

Alan Valdes, WAL Financial Advisory Director and New York LOC Representative Member of the New York Stock Exchange Member of the Explorers Club

The Honorable Chase Untermeyer, WAL Advisory Director Former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar

The Honorable Geoffrey Connor, WAL Advisory Director and Texas LOC Representative Former Secretary of State for Texas Member of the Explorers Club

Dr. John H. Lienhard, WAL Advisory Director Author and voice of The Engines of Our Ingenuity, M.D. Anderson Professor Emeritus

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WORLD SKY RACE ------GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

The United Nations Educational, SciScientificentific and Cultural Organization and the World Air League have formed a partnership to jointly promote World Heritage and UNESCO missions.

On behalf of the RACE, UNESCO is the global diplomatic and cultural partner that connects ministries of education, ministries of environment and aviation authorities. A portion of funds raised by the World Sky Race will go to UNESCO programs for: EDUCATION, WORLD HERITHERITAAAAGEGEGEGE and ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

"We're treating this as part of our communications strategy. As an international competition of lighter- than-air skyships, this RACE will serve not only to provide sporting excitement; it will also provide a means of highlighting the diversity of peoples and places around the world." . Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture

Irina Bokova UNESCO Director General and His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, Chairman of Saudi Tourism Authority, President Of the Saudi Air Club, Friend of the World Sky Race

Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO Assistant Director General, Friend of the World Sky Race and Irina Bokova, UNESCO DG

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Worldwide there are millions of elementary, secondary and high school teachers. Using the WSR route, daily lesson plans created by WSR educational partners will be available to teachers through their Ministries of Education. Fitting within the school curriculum, internet content will be linked interactively inside select classrooms. With live feeds from the local classrooms conducting that day’s lessons, children will have the opportunity to be the teachers leading the lessons. On the day they stand in their classrooms before the cameras they will represent their nation and their culture as they present the lesson plan. For most, this will be their first lesson in leadership. OOOnOn that day, they will be on a world stage as a World LLeadereader wwithith a global audience of millions of fellow students.students. With this active participation and experience, the WSR will create historic and lasting bonds amongst the next generation around the world.

With each generation, we relearn that Fun is a Renewable EnergyEnergy. 6

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is supporting the WSR with Ministries of Tourism and Ministries of Culture to obtain support and access to cultural sites and air space around the global route of the RACE. The UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. The UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. The UNWTO’s membership includes 155 countries, 7 territories and over 400 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

“It is my great pleasure to announce that UNWTO is joining UNESCO in supporting the World Sky Race, an around-the-world race in lighter-than-air skyships, organized by the World Air League… UNWTO is happy to be supporting an initiainitiativetive that has at its very heart the promotion of environmentalenvironmental proprotectiotectiotectionn through green aviation. The World Sky Race aims to raise awareness of the need for innovative ideas and solutions to tackling the global climate change challenge, very much in line with the work of UNWTO.” Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General

Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General the key note speaker addressing the International Tourism Congress during the opening ceremony of ITB Berlin

Since 2006, the World Air League administration has actively participated at every London World Travel Market, ITB Berlin and Dubai Arabian Travel Market, the major global conferences on tourism and the economy. 7

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the WSR are discussing and planning the ways and means to demonstrate GREENGREEN lighterlighter----thanthanthan----airair technologiestechnologies. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will provide observers to facilitate the certification for flight-worthiness of the equipment and procedures developed. Moreover, by their inclusion in the WSR, these new technologies will be challenged and measured for their capabilities and durability. The victors will write a new chapter in the history of aviation, the sustainable environmental chapter.

Hangar One for housing zeppelins at Moffett Field is one of the world's largest freestand- ing structures, covering 8 acres (32,000 m2). The hangar was constructed in 1931.

Hangar One is a Naval Historical Monument, Historic American Engineering Record CA- 335, State of California Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.

The NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, outside San Francisco, is NASA’s leading facility for lighter-than-air technology research and development. They advise the racing airships are large enough to be visible by satellite for broadcast back to Earth, “The RACE seen from Space.”

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The World Sky Race will start on the 0 degree Longitude at the London Greenwich Prime Meridian in front of the Royal Observatory home of the Atomic Clock, which is the clock to which all time on Earth is synchronized.

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), will provide officials and certify the WSR winner. The FAI is the world’s official record keeping body for aviation records. The following objectives outline the FAI’s oversight position and relationship to the WSR:

• to make evident the essentially international spirit of aeronautics as a powerful instrument for bringing all people closer in mutual understanding and friendship regardless of political, racial or religious considerations, thereby helping to create international good will and thus build a better and more peaceful world; • to bring together the air sports men and women of the world in international competition; • to educate young people through sport in a spirit of mutual understanding and friendship; • to coordinate its members' separate efforts to further aeronautics and astronautics throughout the world; • to protect and safeguard the interests of its Members in the use of air space; • to provide a forum for the exchange of information and discussion of mutual problems with other elements of civil aeronautics 9

Today, Members of The Explorers Club are the largest group of individuals contributing their resources and skills to creating the World Sky Race. (See Advisory Directors).

In May 1904, a group of men active in exploration met to form an organization to unite explorers in the bonds of good fellowship and to promote the work of exploration by every means in its power. Thus, began The Explorers Club.

For more than a century, Members of the Club have traversed the earth, the seas, the skies, and even the moon, on expeditions of exploration. First to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, first to the surface of the moon—all accomplished by Members of the Explorers Club.

• North Pole - 1909 - Robert Peary, Matthew Henson, and Ootah.

• South Pole - 1911 - Roald Amundsen

• Summit of Mount Everest, World's Highest Peak - 1953 - Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

• Marianas Trench, Greatest Ocean Depth - 1960 - Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh

• Surface of the Moon - 1969 - Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins

It is a privilege to be granted the honor of carrying the Explorers Club Flag on an expedition in furtherance of exploration and field science. The Explorers Club Flag has been carried on hundreds of expeditions since 1918. As a contribution of exploration for field work in mid-atmospheric data collection and micro-weather modeling, the World Sky Race will proudly carry the Explorers Club Flag on its global and historic record setting expedition. At each of the WSR Summit Host Sites, the Explorers Club Flag will be ceremonially passed to the leading airship in the RACE. Fitting to the occasion, the Explorers Club Flag will be on board the historic first and/or fastest airship to circumnavigate the globe.

The Explorers Club Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Members of the Explorers Club Astoria in New York City Jim Fowler, Explorers Club Honorary President and World Air League Advisory Director Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut Don Hartsell, World Air League Commissioner 10

WORLD SKY RACE ------A RACE FOR THE PLANET

Why are UNESCO, UNWTO, NASA, FAI and The Explorers Club involved in the WSR?WSR? The shared answer starts with the question, “Which will win this race?”

One does not need highways, runways, harbors or rails, nor their costs or annual maintenance costs. One does not need fuel to lift, but only to carry. One can travel as much as 1,000 miles a day. One has the smallest carbon footprint in comparison with the entire transportation grid. One does not need to cut down rain forests to connect communities. One does not need bridges to connect islands. One does not need to encroach on the tundra to connect to the arctic frontiers. Instead of only eliminating the last mile of infrastructure, one can eliminate the last 1,000 miles or more.

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WORLD SKY RACE ------BROADCAST PAPARTNERSHIPS,RTNERSHIPS, FEATURED COVERAGE

The live audience that will physically watch the World Sky Race is expected to be greater than 140,000,000. This will make the World Sky Race the largest event to be witnessed by the greatest number of live spectators in all of history. Millions of children will use the RACE in their daily lesson plans for 180+ days. The RACE will be a socially networked connection of individual stories and experiences encompassing the globe.. The total viewing impressiimpressionsons will be measured in the Billions.

EUROSPORT and the World Air League have created a broadcast partnership for 18 HD prime-time programs to cover the WSR. Total air time for the WSR will be more than 40 programs across 59 countries in Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific. EUROSPORT reaches 120,000,000 households with 22 million different viewers each day with 95 percent watching in their native language.

The World Sky Race announcement was featured on the FRONT PAGE of the

National Geographic, National Geographic Radio, Forbes, Radio France International, ESPN have each covered and featured the RACE.

Coverage for the 180 days, CNN, BBC, CCTV, TV5, RTL ARD, Univision, RTE, NHK, ABC, CBS and NBC have confirmed the WSR will be the daily news. 12

WORLD SKY RACE ------IN THE MEDIA CULTURE

Times Square i inn New York CityCity::::

CCCenterCenter of the universe for marketing and advertisingadvertising,,,, GIANT digital screens announced the World Sky Race.

In the New York Times Crossword Puzzle, the RACE is the answer.

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle:::

44. Across --- RACE is the answer. In the New York Times Crossword Puzzle, the RACE is the answer.

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WORLD SKY RACE ------MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS AAAMPLIFYINGAMPLIFYING AND DISTRIBUTING THTHEE MESSAGE

The media departments of The United Nations, UNWTO and UNESCO are significant and active partners for the World Sky Race. Through their organizations and staff, press releases and public relations campaigns will be distributed as part of the build-up of the RACE and its coverage as it traverses the world. Materials and stories released by these organizations go directly into the global media and major news services.

The multiple media departments of the WSR partners: Ministries of Tourism, Summit Host Sites Local Organizing Committees, Program Resource Supporters, Event Partners and Sponsors will be active in providing materials and developing public relations campaigns to highlight their roles and involvement. To maximize and leverage these resources, the RACE will provide unique stories and exotic content.

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WORLD SKY CHAMPIONS PURSE PRIZE --- SUSTAINABLE REWARD FOR INNOVATION

The World Sky Race will produce several historic aviation records:

• First international airship competition; • First team to circumnavigate the globe in a lighter-than-air vessel; and • Fastest team to circumnavigate the globe in a lighter-than-air vessel

The Sky Team with the fastest cumulative time in completing the prescribed World Sky Race route will be crowned the World Sky Champions and be awarded the World Sky Champions Purse Prize by the World Air League Foundation. Historic Air Show The inaugural World Sky ChampionChampionss Purse Prize will be a minimum of $5 $5,000,000,000,000,000,000.... Trophies As additional funds are raised by the Summit Host Sites, the Purse Prize will increase. The funds for the World Sky Champions Purse Prize will be renewed out of the revenues generated by the WSR. This will enable the WSR to be held every three years in perpetuity. With this self-renewing incentive, the World Sky Champions Purse PrPrizeize will transform lighterlighter- ---thanthanthan----airair industry development by inspiring inventors to invent, investors to invest and adventurers to competecompete. Innovative leaders of industry will watch, listen, learn and adapt. As the RACE technology judge, the World Air League will have the premier opportunity to view engineering proofs on what works effectively, efficiently, has performance and has durability and what does not. Prizes have an effective track record for creating innovation by:

• Creating a goal without having to predict which team or approach is most likely to succeed; • Benefiting from novel approaches without bearing high levels of risk; • Reaching beyond the “usual suspects” to increase the number of minds focusing on a problem and its solution; • Bringing out-of-discipline perspectives to bear; • Increasing cost-effectiveness by maximizing research resources; and • Paying only for success.

History changing events have been created by prizes. Two major paradigm changing examples include: in 1714, the Longitude Prize stimulated the development of the first practical navigational method to determine a ship’s longitude; and, in 1927, the Orteig Prize inspired Charles Lindbergh to fly from New York to Paris nonstop.

Teams compete not just for the cash purse, but also for the prestige, publicity, and intrinsic satisfaction of solving important problems. Prizes create the incentives for investment and thus leverage the impact of the prize purse. In 2004, the $10,000,000 Ansari X Prize was won by Burt Rutan and SpaceShipOne after 26 competing teams spent more than $100 million to win it. With a focus on targeted results-based competition that is open to multiple approaches, prizes empower new, untapped talent to deliver unexpected solutions to tough problems. Sun Microsystems co-founder Bill Joy said, “No matter who you are, most of the smartest people work for someone else.”

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WORLD SKY RACRACEE SUMMIT HOST SITSITEEEESSSS (SHS) --- CELEBRCELEBRATIONSATIONS AROUND THE WOWOLRDLRD

Around the world, the RACE route will consist of linking15-18 World Sky Race Summit Host Sites (SHS). As WSR destinations, their selection is competitive to encourage local participation and highlight regional cultures.

Since 2006, the SHS Committee has met with more than 120 Ministries of Tourism, UNESCO World Heritage Site Administrations; Convention and Visitors Authorities and Governmental Event Planning Organizations. Pursuant to the SHS selection program: H.R.H. Prince Faisal has agreed to be the World Sky Race Royal Patron for Jordan; H.R.H. Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, Chairman of Saudi Tourism and Antiquities, has pledged his support to provide the air rights to travel over Saudi Arabia; the new Egypt Ministry of Tourism has renewed Egypt’s pledged use of the Great Pyramids for landing the competing Sky Teams; the Palace of Versailles has granted their Gardens to be used for the finishing landing spot for Sky Teams; Italy has pledged to allow a fly-over of the Roman Coliseum; and India has pledged the same for the Taj Mahal. To help stage local events, Jean-Michel Jarre has agreed to be the Artistic Director for the World Sky Race.

Each Summit Host Site will be responsible for developing its own artistic expression for their involvement in the WSR and each will have 1-3 days of scheduled festivities. With the center stage spotlight for world audiences and RACE fans focused on the teams, each Site will be a celebration of distinction representing the nation and regional culture. Ministries of Education and educational authorities associated with each specific Site will be resources for all the global WSR educational programming.

Tourism and culture officials, economic development authorities and event management organizations have been encouraged to initiate the candidacy of their region or city.

Contact: Mr. Jack Kelly, Business Development Director World Air League [email protected]. +1.404.822.5367

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 - VOL CCLVI NO.65

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Blimp Enthusiast Is Buoyed by Idea of a Round-the-World Race Modern-Day Phileas Fogg Makes Pitch, But Is He Full of Hot Air? By MARY PILON And PETER A. MCKAY The 1937 Hindenburg disaster was a major blow to blimp enthusiasts. Seven decades later, Don Hartsell is trying to get people fired up about airship travel. As founder of the World Air League, the 57-year-old modern-day Phileas Fogg is trying to line up zeppelins, blimps and other dirigibles for a race around the world. But his contest would take way more than the 80 days of the 1873 Jules Verne adventure. His quixotic World Sky Race would be a first, aviation historians say. The event would begin on the prime meridian in England on Sept. 23, 2011, returning to Europe on March 20, 2012—about six weeks before the 75th anniversary of the LZ-129 Hindenburg disaster in which 36 people were killed in a field in Lakehurst, N.J. Mr. Hartsell says he has spent $2 million of his own money and raised another $2 million from wealthy donors, whom he declines to name. Among his advisers for the project: a former chief executive of Lockheed Martin Corp., officials at Unesco and a trader at the New York Stock Exchange. Unlike the hot-air balloons of Verne's day and later, which go wherever the wind blows, blimps and zeppelins are lighter-than- air vessels powered by engines and propellers. Dirigible travel flourished in the 1920s and 1930s, but "the industry collapsed with the Hindenburg," says John King, a blimp pilot and instructor. Now, there are only about 25 or 35 dirigibles in the world and 80 or so pilots, aviation experts say. Most are used as floating billboards by large corporations and offer aerial views of sporting events. One airship today has a 70 foot by 30 foot video screen. The U.S. Navy used a MZ-3A Airship to survey the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - PAGE 1 - SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 - VOL CCLVI NO.65

PAGE ONE

Despite dirigibles' fall from favor, aficionados believe that their best days could be ahead. "Blimps are safe and reliable," says Dan Grossman, an Atlanta attorney who researches and writes about airships at www.airships.net. "Most of them have never had any problems." The Hindenburg and other older airships were lifted by hydrogen—an obvious safety risk because it is flammable—rather than helium, which doesn't burn and is commonly used today. Mr. Hartsell notes that airships also burn less fuel in their engines than jets or other fixed-wing aircraft do, and that they could be used to transport commercial cargo. Mr. Hartsell says he got the idea for an airship race from the U.S. Bicentennial festivities in 1976, where he snapped a picture of the Goodyear blimp floating by the Statue of Liberty and saw replica 18th-century tall ships floating nearby in the Hudson River. He wondered why airships couldn't race like the sailboats. He spent subsequent decades as a lawyer, accountant and entrepreneur with a focus on engineering in Houston, where he and his wife raised their two daughters. Toward the end of 2005, with his engineering projects winding down and his kids grown up, Mr. Hartsell began making his blimp dream a reality. He says he has been traveling about 300 days a year visiting world leaders, pilots and potential sponsors. "Don is one of those people who benefit from having other people around who are imaginative but not quite the free spirit he is," says retired Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine, an engineer himself who serves as a sounding board for Mr. Hartsell and offers up technical advice. The two met through the Explorers Club, a New York-based group dedicated to scientific discovery. Part of what drives Mr. Hartsell is a quest to make history. If he gets just one vehicle to complete the race, which crosses the equator, it could be considered the first full circumnavigation of the world by an airship, pilots and historians say. Mr. Hartsell says he has earmarked about $500,000 for prize money but wants to raise $10 million by signing up sponsors. He has finalized the terms for Eurosport to be the race's broadcast partner. "This is a unique event," says Géraldine Filiol, managing director of Eurosport Events. "We immediately liked the project." Don Hartsell, who is trying to build support for a round-the world 'air race' of zeppelins, blimps and other dirigibles, pilots an airship over Los Angeles.. But Mr. Hartsell still faces stiff headwinds. Racing blimps around the world could pose "significant operational challenges," says Goodyear spokesman Scott Baughman. Goodyear's four blimps fly four to six days a week year-round, depending on maintenance and weather. Mr. Hartsell has yet to approach the company. "We haven't looked into the specifics of what he's proposing," Mr. Baughman says. Cost is another obstacle. It takes a long time to fly a blimp around the world; cruising speeds for airships are closer to those of a Mazda 626 than a Boeing 747. Some companies pay around $6 million for a year-long blimp campaign, says Toby Page, marketing director for the Lightship Group in Orlando, Fla., a company that provides blimps for advertising purposes. And then there are the political challenges. Mr. Hartsell says he has had to structure his race to avoid the air space of China and Vietnam. Some officials have been more welcoming, however. Mr. Hartsell has granted the Royal Mint of Malaysia rights to issue a set of commemorative gold and silver Sky Race coins. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has even allowed Mr. Hartsell's group to use the Unesco logo in his promotional materials and has introduced him to government officials who can help him secure air rights in certain countries. In return, Mr. Hartsell has planned his race route to fly over major landmarks around the world to spur public interest in them. "We're treating this as part of our communications strategy," says Francesco Bandarin, Unesco assistant director-general for culture. "In some regions around the world, heritage sites can get neglected. We're hoping that maybe some of those sites can benefit from the Sky Race."

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - PAGE 1 - SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

December 7, 2010

Mr. Don R. Hartsell Commissioner and Managing Director World Air League PO Box 550045 Houston, Texas 77055 USA RE: World Sky Race

Dear Don,

The inaugural World Sky Race sounds like an excing adventure. Your idea to use the race as a bridge to connect disparate parts of the globe and to highlight our planet's incredible cultural diversity gives the race analmost epic component that should appeal to popular audiences. On the educaonal front, the race program could be of great service andinspiraon for schools around the world to follow for acve history and geography lessons. And it also looks like great fun. We are interested in pursuing discussions with the World Air League to develop possible television, IMAX and web coverage of the race. As your program connues to evolve, we stand ready (when you are ready) to reach a mutual understanding on responsibilies, expectaons and rights.

In the meanme, I understand that for your purposes, you will want to assemble on-locaon several professional producon teams to visually record the global race and surrounding events. Please let me know the areas where you may need assistance. In return, we ask to have access to the unrestricted content for our consideraon for inclusion in NGS programming.

Good luck to you as you move this ambious program forward. We look forward to sing down with your media staff and advisers soon.

Best regards, M

Mark Bauman SVP Content Development Mission Programs EVP Naonal Geographic Television [email protected] tel: 202-775-6589

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Eurosport and the World Air League initiate International Broadcast Partnership to cover the World Sky Race 2013

PARIS, FRANCE - 26 October 2010 - The Eurosport Group and the World Air League formalized a partnership for broadcast coverage of the World Sky Race.

This event is a first of its kind, global aviation race featuring teams flying lighter-than-air sky ships, blimps and zeppelins. Each of the individual race stages in this historic around-the-world skyship air rally will be featured in a series of programs broadcast on Eurosport, the leading pan-European sports broadcaster. The inaugural exhibition is planned for September 2012. The full World Sky Race is planned start on the Greenwich Prime Meridian in London September 2013 and the final stage will return to the Prime Meridian 180 days later.

Eurosport's coverage will consist of 18 prime time programs and additional rebroadcasts of each original program. In total, The World Sky Race will benefit from a minimum on-air coverage of 40 programs on the flagship Eurosport channel which reaches over 120,000,000 households across 59 countries in Europe. The series of programs will also be broadcast on Eurosport's TV channels in Asia and the Pacific, extending coverage of the event from Europe to 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

To initiate the partnership, Don Hartsell, Managing Director for the World Air League stated, "The Eurosport and World Air League Broadcast Partnership is a significant development in making the World Sky Race a major new global event for fans and sponsors. Literally, around the world, we will provide racing fans of all types with dramatic coverage of the epic challenges faced by each Sky Team, adding value for the World Air League's involved sponsors. Eurosport's leadership in sports entertainment programming will elevate the stakes for the competitors. The crowning of the historic first circumnavigation World Sky Champion will be now televised around the world."

"Eurosport is very pleased to be the broadcast partner of the World Air League and to participate in the creation and promotion of this larger-than-life competition. We are convinced that the World Sky Race will create an exciting series of programs featuring an exceptional competition between sky teams with the world's most beautiful cities as a back drop. As Europe's leading sports entertainment group, Eurosport is delighted to offer this event all the group's experience and expertise in international broadcasting and promotion" explains Géraldine Filiol, Managing Director for Eurosport Events.

About the World Sky Race

The World Sky Race will be a grand aviation adventure of airships dominating the sky. For dramatic visuals, the race course will include iconic monuments around the globe. UNESCO and the World Air League have formed a partnership for the race to fly over 130+ World Heritage Sites. Some of the historic highlights will include: flying over Versailles Palace; landing next to the Great Pyramids; cruising above the Taj Mahal; and saluting the Statute of Liberty. In addition to the UNESCO sites, the World Sky race will: fly past Big Ben; circle the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Mt. Fujiyama in Japan; use the skies above the Golden Gate Bridge; and touch down at the NASA Johnson Space Center.

The World Sky Race is a first of its kind sporting event. Its themes are broad and large. It will provide sponsors with unique opportunities to be involved with supporting the competing sky teams and distinguish their brands on a global basis. The race will test the sky teams, the machines, their endurance and their daring. As an international sporting competition, the World Sky Race will establish two aviation records with the first ever and the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a lighter-than-air craft. Sky Team sponsors will participate in the global VIP events at each of the 18 Summit Host City sites.

About the World Air League

The World Air League was formed and has it headquarters in Houston, Texas. The organization has grown to have local organizing representatives in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, India, Malaysia, Mexico, California, and New York. "In the spirit of grace, goodwill and sportsmanship, the mission of the World Air League is to connect the global community through organizing competitions of lighter-than-air skyships."

About Eurosport Group The Eurosport Group is Europe's leading sports entertainment group. Eurosport, the n°1 pan- European TV channel, is broadcast in 20 languages reaching 121 million homes and 240 million viewers across 59 countries. Eurosport HD is the high definition simulcast of Eurosport. Eurosport 2 broadcasts to 46 million households in 16 languages across 47 countries. Eurosport 2 HD was launched in August 2009. Eurosport Asia-Pacific reaches 14 countries in the region. Eurosportnews provides up-to-date sports TV news transmitted worldwide. Online, Eurosport has a network of dedicated sports websites in 11 different languages. Eurosport is ranked as Europe's N°1 online sports destination and is visited by over 10 million unique users per month (comScore). Eurosport Mobile offers Live streaming, mobile sites and mobile applications in 9 languages providing LIVE sports news and results. Eurosport Events is the group's expert division in the organisation, management and promotion of international sporting events.

For more information, please visit www.eurosportcorporate.com www.worldskyrace.com

EUROSPORT

Ms. Géraldine Filiol, Managing Director - EUROSPORT Events +33.(0)1.4093.8381 [email protected]

World Air League

Mr. Jack Kelly, Business Development Director World Air League +1.404.822.5367 [email protected]

Mr. Tom Douglas, Media Director World Air League +1.832.627.6554 [email protected] éÅêÄáæèçíè éÅêÄáæèçíè Für alle, die sich den Luxus der Langsamkeit leisten wollen, gibt es 2011 eine ultimativ neue Erfahrung. Im Herbst startet die erste Luftschiff-Parade å˚ Ó͇Á‡ÎËÒ¸ um die Welt in London an der Atomuhr, die weltweit die Zeit bestimmt. Der Flug führt über Big Ben, das Parlamentsgebäude und London Bridge nach Versailles, dann über die Pyramiden von Ägypten zum Taj Mahal in Indien weiter zu den Petronas Towers und den Fujiyama in Japan. Weiter geht der Flug ̇ ÔÓÓ„Â über die mexikanische Sonnenpyramide bis zum NASA Johnson Space Center und zur Freiheitsstatue im New York. Insgesamt führt die Route über 130 Stätten ÂÌÂÒÒ‡ÌÒ‡ des Weltkulturerbes. Unterstützt wird das außergewöhnliche Projekt von namhaften Institutionen wie der UNESCO und Ministerien für Touristik weltweit. Директор центра всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО Namhafte Persönlichkeiten wie Dr. Zahi Hawass, Chef der ägyptischen Antikensammlung und der kalifonische Gouverneur Arnold Schwarzenegger engagieren Франческо Бандарин и член организационной «˝˚ комиссии World Air League Дон Харстелл sich ebenfalls. Organisator und Ideengeber ist die World Sky Race. Sie organisiert diese erste internationale Wettfahrt von Fluggeräten, die leichter als Luft sind. на съезде ЮНЕСКО в Париже подписали соглашение Damit soll ein internationaler Rekord in der Luftfahrt für Luftschiffe aufgestellt und eines der großartigsten Events der Gegenwart geschaffen werden. ‰ËËʇ·ÎÂÈ» о стратегическом развитии партнерства ВОКРУГ СВЕТА зазаза180180180 днеиднейднеи

ðåäñòàâüòå ñåáå îãðîìíûå ñèãàðîîáðàçíûå øàðû, êîòîðûå âåëè÷àâî ïðîïëûâàþò âûñîêî íàä íàøèìè ãîëîâàìèÉ ç âñåõ êðóãîñâåòíûõ ïóòåøåñòâèé ýòî áóäåò, âîçìîæíî, ñàìûì ßðêèì. Çîêðóã ñâåòà çà 180 äíåéÈ Ñ âñå ãëàâíîå èçëîæåíî óæå â íàçâàíèè ïðîåêòà, êîòîðûé â 2011 ãîäó áóäåò ðåàëèçîâàí àìåðèêàíñêîé êîìïàíèåé World Air League è –åíòðîì âñåìèðíîãî íàñëåäèß ‘. Çïè÷åñêèå ïðîïîðöèè, êîëîññàëüíûé äóõ, âåëèêîå ïóòåøåñòâèåÈ Ñ òàêîâ äåâèç ýòîãî óíèêàëüíîãî ïðåäïðèßòèß, èíèöèàòîðîì êîòîðîãî ßâëßåòñß àìåðèêàíåö èç ’åõàñà

© BILDARCHIV LIFE IN îí •àðòññåë (Don Hartsell). 44 WINTER 2010 «LIFE IN RHEIN-MAIN: ФРАНКФУРТ» 45 éÅêÄáæèçíè éÅêÄáæèçíè

éëçéÇçÄü ñÖãú äêìÉéëÇÖíçéÉé èìíÖòÖëíÇàü Внизу, непосредственно у корпуса дирижабля, находится гондола, çÄ ÑàêàÜÄÅãüï — çÄèéåçàíú åàêì é ÇêÖÑÖ, äéíéêõâ в передней части которой размещены рубка управления, ëÖÉéÑçü èêàóàçüûí éäêìÜÄûôÖâ ëêÖÑÖ ëÄåéãÖíõ. служебные и пассажирские помещения. áÄÅõíÄü àÑÖü èÖêÖÇéáäà Через наклонные окна кают и салона обеспечивается достаточно èÄëëÄÜàêéÇ à ÉêìáéÇ çÄ ÑÄãúçàÖ êÄëëíéüçàü çÄ ëìÑçÖ, хороший обзор и освещение. äéíéêéÖ ãÖÉóÖ ÇéáÑìïÄ, èé åçÖçàû éêÉÄçàáÄíéêéÇ åéÜÖí Åõíú ÇéëäêÖòÖçÄ à ÑéêÄÅéíÄçÄ. ÉÄÅÄêàíõ ëéÇêÖåÖççõï ÑàêàÜÄÅãÖâ , çÄåçéÉéÇ íé ÇêÖåü äÄä ìêéÇÖçú ÏÂ̸¯Â ÅÖáéèÄëçéëíà ирижабли последнего поколения пролетят над главными достопримечательностями планеты, ̇ÏÌÓ„Ó ÇõòÖ. будь то лондонский Биг-Бен, парижский Вер- саль, египетские пирамиды, Тадж-Махал, знаме- Ñ нитые башни в Куала-Лумпуре, мексиканская пирамида Солнца… Зрелище обещает быть захватываю- щим — уже по демонстрационному видео на сайте World Air League понятно, насколько масштабным должен стать этот проект. В каждой стране путешественники собираются оста- навливаться на день. Исключение составят лишь Гавайские острова, где предусмотрена двухдневная передышка. Маршрут перелета еще уточняется, но очевидно, что каж- дая остановка должна стать заметным событием для миро- вой прессы. Кульминацией некоторых этапов станут кон- церты композитора и музыканта Жан-Мишеля Жарра, знаменитого своими светомузыкальными шоу, который с недавних пор выступает еще и в качестве посла доброй во- ли ЮНЕСКО. Кроме эстетической задачи есть у проекта и просве- тительская — напомнить о том вреде, который обычные самолеты наносят окружающей среде. Известно, что эта инициатива заинтересовала кали- форнийского губернатора Арнольда Шварценеггера, зна- ющего толк в крупномасштабных зрелищах. Вообще аме- риканцы, которым особенно по душе вычурная контрастная плакатность, наиболее восторженно отзыва- ются о намерениях World Air League. © BILDARCHIV LIFE IN

46 WINTER 2010 «LIFE IN RHEIN-MAIN: ФРАНКФУРТ» 47 éÅêÄáæèçíè

Немецкий пассажирский цеппелин LZ 129 «Гинденбург» (нем. Hindenburg), названный в честь немецкого президента Пауля фон Гинденбурга и самый большой из когда-либо построенных дирижаблей, éèÖêÖÑàíÖ ÇêÖåü имел объем 190 000 м2, его длина составляла 246,7 метра (легендарный «Титаник» был короче на 24 метра) çéÇõâ ÉàÅêàÑçõâ LEXUS RX450H

220 ÍÇ/299 PS

148 „/ÍÏ CO2 6,3 Î/100 ÍÏ*

6 мая 1937 года цеппелин «Гинденбург» «Гинденбург» совершил «круг над нью-йоркским почета» над Нью-Йорком. Вскоре Манхэттеном. после этого воздушное судно должно Полет вокруг было приземлиться в Лейкхерсте Empire State Building

Кстати, на дирижаблях вокруг Земли уже летали. Пер- äéçñÖêí äéåèéáàíéêÄ вый дирижабль поднялся в воздух в 1910 году — это был à åìáõäÄçíÄ ÜÄç-åàòÖãü ÜÄêêÄ, 148-метровый воздушный объект, по форме напоминаю- щий гигантскую сигару. А ровно 80 лет назад, в 1929 году, ëéëíéüÇòàâëü Ç åéëäÇÖ немецкий «LZ 127» из Фридрихсхафена облетел земной шар за 20 дней. Остановок было всего три — в Токио, Ç 1997 ÉéÑì, Сан-Франциско и Лос-Анджелесе. Это путешествие было ÇéòÖã Ç äçàÉì êÖäéêÑéÇ кульминацией «эры дирижаблей», трагически прервав- шейся уже в 1937-м. Золотой век пассажирских дирижаб- ÉàçÖëëÄ äÄä ëÄåéÖ åÄëëéÇéÖ лей лопнул как мыльный пузырь вместе с немецким åÖêéèêàüíàÖ èéÑ éíäêõíõå «Hindenburg», сгоревшим при посадке в американском Лейкхерсте вместе с 37 пассажирами. çÖÅéå. éç ëéÅêÄã Несмотря ни на что, дирижабли не стоит сбрасывать со счетов. Идея этого воздушного судна не только не умер- . ла, но и обрела второе дыхание после того, как в конце 3,5 åãç. áêàíÖãÖâ XX века дирижабли стали более безопасными. Сейчас их íÄäéÉé ëäéèãÖçàü çÄêéÑÄ поднимает в воздух не взрывоопасный водород, а инерт- ный гелий. Теперь дирижабли стали ярмарочными объек- Ç êéëëàâëäéâ ëíéãàñÖ тами, с их помощью ученые делают замеры в верхних сло- çÖ çÄÅãûÑÄãéëú ях атмосферы, наблюдают за дорожным движением. Всерьез рассматривается и возможность перевозки с их ëé ÇêÖåÖç èéïéêéç àéëàîÄ помощью нестандартных грузов. ëíÄãàçÄ Ç 1953 ÉéÑì. Например, с начала 1990-х годов в немецком Фрид- рихсхафене выпускают модели «Zeppelin NT» — длина их 2 не превышает 75 метров, а объем составляет 8225 м . ë‚ÓÂÈ ÌÓ‚ÓÈ ÏÓ‰Âθ˛ RX450h Lexus ÔÓ‰ÓÎʇÂÚ Ì‡˜‡ÚÓ ‚ 2005 „Ó‰Û Ì‡Ô‡‚ÎÂÌË — По сравнению со своими «дедушками», вмещавшими до Ô‰ÒÚ‡‚ÎflÂÚ ÏËÛ SUV Ò „Ë·ˉÌ˚Ï ‰‚Ë„‡ÚÂÎÂÏ. ùÚÓ ‡‚ÚÓÏÓ·Ëθ ·Û‰Û˘Â„Ó 2 200 000 м водорода, нынешний дирижабль выглядит ли- Ò ‚Ô˜‡ÚÎfl˛˘ËÏË ˝ÍÓÌÓÏ˘Ì˚ÏË ÔÓ͇Á‡ÚÂÎflÏË Ë ÏËÌËχθÌ˚Ï Á‡„flÁÌÂÌËÂÏ ÓÍÛʇ˛˘ÂÈ Ò‰˚. липутом, однако и он способен поражать воображение. ëÓ˜ÂÚ‡ÌË ÌÂÔÓ‚ÚÓËÏÓ„Ó ‰ËÁ‡È̇, ÌÓ‚‡ÚÓÒÍÓÈ ÒËÒÚÂÏ˚ ‰ËÒڇ̈ËÓÌÌÓ„Ó ÛÔ‡‚ÎÂÌËfl íouch 180-дневное путешествие вокруг Земли можно на- Ë ÔÓÒΉÌËı ÚÂıÌÓÎÓ„ËÈ ·ÂÁÓÔ‡ÒÌÓÒÚË Ô‚‡˘‡ÂÚ Î˛·Û˛ ÔÓÂÁ‰ÍÛ ‚ Á‡ı‚‡Ú˚‚‡˛˘Â ÔËÍβ˜ÂÌËÂ. звать еще одним свидетельством того, что мы, возможно, ì·Â‰ËÚÂÒ¸ ‚ ˝ÚÓÏ Ò‡ÏË ‚Ó ‚ÂÏfl ÔÓ·ÌÓ„Ó ÚÂÒÚ-‰‡È‚‡! оказались на пороге настоящего ренессанса «эры дири- жаблей». Уже в 2010 году американская компания «Aeros» намерена запустить пассажирский летательный аппарат нового поколения — «Aeroscraft ML 866», который сочета- LEXUS FORUM WIESBADEN • Löhr Automobile GmbH ет в себе свойства вертолета, самолета и дирижабля. Разра- Mainzer Straße 130 • 65189 Wiesbaden • www.lexusforum-wiesbaden.de ботчики утверждают, что из Москвы до Нью-Йорка на нем можно будет добраться всего за 12 часов. Новое — это хо- íÂÎÂÙÓÌ: + 49 (0) 611 50 50 74 30 • íÂÎÂÙ‡ÍÒ: + 49 (0) 611 50 50 74 39 рошо забытое старое!

Константин КУЦ, Франкфурт-на-Майне © BILDARCHIV LIFE IN LF 48 WINTER 2010 * ê‡ÒıÓ‰ ÚÓÔÎË‚‡ ÍÓÏ·ËÌËÓ‚‡ÌÌ˚È ‚ Î/100 ÍÏ — 6,3 (6,6/6,0); ˝ÏËÒÒËfl CO2 — 148 „/ÍÏ.

UIlSen i! The Assistant Director-General for Culture United Nations : Educalional, Scientific and : Cullural Organizalion : Mr Don R. Hartsell Organisation des Nations Unies Commissioner and Managing pour P8ducation, ' la science et la culture ' Director

Organizacibn World Air League de las Naciones Unidas - PO Box 550045 para la Educaci6n, . la Ciencia y la Cultura Houston, Texas 77055 Oprann3aq~~ United States of America O~I~AMH~HH~IXHB~YR fl0 ' eonpocaM 06pa30ea~nn, . HayKM kl KYnbTypbl iuwl;yl~. Ref.: ADG/CLT/2012-51 2 May 2012 ZWI3+~&fl . ReagB. . *q%lk2'Ck%&R. Dear Mr Hartsell,

UNESCO World Heritage Centre welcomes the news that all the preparations for the World Sky Race in London in September 2014 are going well. As you know, the World Heritage Centre has been a partner in this unprecedented race among skyships, blimps and zeppelins since 2008. This event will serve not only to infuse an excitement among sport aficionados but also to highlight the diversity of peoples and places around the world and thus would promote intercuRural dialogue and understanding.

The World Heritage Convention ratified by 189 countries is widely considered as the most important international legal instrument for the identification, presentation and preservation of both cultural and natural sites of outstanding values. The 936 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List to date and the enthusiasm for the inscription of new sites and their preservation are a positive indication of global political and public support for the World Heritage Convention. However, there is an ever-increasing need to raise awareness about these important places and to generate new resources to preserve them.

Your initiative to educate people of all ages about the World Heritage and raise funds for their consideration through the World Sky Race and associated activities is an important innovation. It would enable the World Air League to contribute to meeting the strategic objectives of the world Heritage Committee in terms of communicating about and conserving the World Heritage. In order to achieve this important goal, the World Heritage Centre has been working with the World Sky Race in a collaborative partnership based on high ethical standards, transparency and accountability while keeping the conservation of the World Heritage sites on the top of the agenda.

I would like to encourage you to present this recommendation letter to all our potential partners who could help us achieve together the goals of this innovative enterprise.

Yours sincerely,

1, rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France Te1. : +33 (0)l 45 68 44 37 Fax :*33 (0)1 45 68 55 91 Madrid, 4 February 201 1 UNWTO -mum arga~glon

Dear SirIMadam

It is my great pleasure to announce that UNWTO is joining UNESCO in supporting the World Sky Race, an around-the-world race in lighter-than-air skyships, organized by the World Air League, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization.

This unprecedented competition will see skyships, blimps and zeppelins racing more than 30,000 miles across the globe, passing over 130 World Heritage Sites and countless iconic tourism landmarks and destinations, in a bid to be named World Sky Champion.

UNWTO is happy to be supporting an initiative that has at its very heart, the promotion of environmental protection through green aviation. The World Sky Race aims to raise awareness of the need for innovative ideas and solutions to tackling the global climate change challenge, very much in line with the work of UNWTO.

Tourism is built on the countless linkages made between tourists from all cultures and backgrounds on their travels. Due to begin in September 2012, and spanning the globe from Albania to Vietnam, the World Sky Race will also be a celebration of the role of travel in linking the world.

UNWTO looks forward to working with UNESCO and the World Air League towards a successful race.

Sincerely,

Taleb Rifai Secretary-General

Jean ~hef3uwe Musician & 'UVSCOcj~~d~iSf R~~USS&~

Mr Don R. HARTSELL Commissioner & Managing Director WORLD AIR LEAGUE PO Box 550045 Houston, Texas 77002 Unites States of America

Paris, February 20, 2009.

RE :WORLD SKY RACE

Dear Don,

It was such a pleasure sitting with you this week in Paris and sharing our common vision on the challenge that lies ahead to bring this World Sky Race to success.

I am honoured and enthused by your invitation to have me contribute as Artistic Director, which I graciously accept. Music and cutting-edge scenography to accompany the already exciting global event, should enhance the project's media image and strengthen the ties with the general public we touch across the continents.

I reiterate my full commitment to the project and ensure you of my ongoing cotlaboration.

Looking forward to seeing you again soon,

d Jean MihlJarre

C/O %-o ~rodkttbns,8 me de Lbk,75017 Pads - France ~6 :+ 33 I 4490 9170 Fa:+ 331 4490 91 7. mad: crntac~@wo;~~r~d~m.cmn

World Air League UNESCO World Heritage Centre World Heritage Partnerships

Houston City Hall 901 Bagby, Suite 100 7, place de Fontenoy Houston, Texas 77002 USA 75352 Paris 07 SP France P.O. Box 550045 Houston, Texas 77055 USA

+1 713 963 8600 whc.unesco.org