-
GB2006
22 December 2006
Gordon Bennett 2006 - The Story
Gordon Bennett 2006 – Belgium
Since the Belgians Bob Berben and Benoît Siméons had won the 2005 race out of Albuquerque the 100th Anniversary of the Gordon Bennett was to take off from Belgium.
It was the 50th edition of the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett.17 teams participated:
From Austria: Gerald Stürzlinger & Johann Fürstner
From Belgium: Benoît Siméons & Bob Berben, Luc Van Geyte & Rudy Paenen, Philippe De Cock & Ronny Van Havere
From Canada: Danielle Francoeur & Leo Burman
From France: Vincent Leÿs & Sébastien Rolland
From Germany: Tomas Hora & Volker Löschhorn, Heinrich Brachtendorf & Karl-Heinz Huthmacher, Wilhelm Eimers & Ullrich Seel
From Great-Britain: David Hempleman-Adams & Jonathan Mason
From Russia: Stanislaw Fuodoroff & Sergey Grishin
From Switzerland: Christian Stoll & Walter Mattenberger, Max Krebs & Walter Vollenweider, Kurt Frieden & Stefan Zeberli
From USA: Barbara Fricke & Peter Cuneo, Phillip Macnutt & Richard Abruzzo, Andy Cayton & Dan Suskin.Waasmunster was the hosting town.
Posted by Luc at 11:08 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
29 September 2006
From Russia, with love ....
Posted by Luc at 8:53 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
26 September 2006
Pictures Gordon Bennett Race
After this very beautiful event that was so special in many ways, we’d like to make a souvenir for all the teams: a cd or dvd with lots of pictures of the race.
]]]]> Please, please send us your most beautiful pictures too, so we can burn them on the cd or dvd for these brave pilots and their crew...
Thanks a lot in advance for your kind generosity :-)
--> All pictures can be sent to: gb2006@gasballon.beor via http://www.yousendit.com (up to 100 Mb)
or by post at GB2006 - A.Rodenbachlaan 4 - B-2547 LINT (Belgium)
Posted by Luc at 8:24 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
23 September 2006
Only Santa Claus was missing…
The team made it back safe and sound, with a lot of nice images in their heads and in their hearts. The weight of icing on the envelope forced us to land in the Norwegian mountains, 77km South East of Bodö. Due to the bad weather conditions, the helicopter was unable to fly, so we spent one night in the cold protected by the basket, and another in a little caban after a long walk. Only Santa Claus was missing…
After this wonderfull experience, we’re glad to be back in sunny Belgium to share all the funny anecdotes and the beautiful images. Here’s a little insight on this fabulous adventure.
Posted by Luc at 11:05 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
21 September 2006
Closing Ceremony
It was a great pleasure for me and my team to organise the 50th Gordon Bennett, after the great victory of Bob and Benoît last year. Beyond the great organisation, my team realised, the weather was also on our side. All the teams, just one could not launch, made a great and save flight. Congratulations to all the teams. After some thrilling days, with long flights over the North Sea, another Belgian team, Philippe and Ronny, were flying to victory to the upper North of Norway. Congratulations to Philippe and Ronny !
Posted by Ludobuyle at 2:54 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
16 September 2006
ATC clearances
To all pilots,
Concerning the possible infringements on (lack of) ATC clearances, I ask you all to return to me, in a sealed envelope, your log of all ATC clearances, as stated in the rules (6.3).
You can hand them to me at the debriefing tonight.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Luc at 10:17 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Final Results
To all pilots:
Herewith the final results. (+ addendum via email)
The official notice board is the glass window of the Competition Centre.
The results will also be available on the website.
We will send the same information to all pilots to the email address they have communicated to us.
The results include penalties.
The pilot that was directly involved has been called by phone.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorFinal Results 50th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett
Posted by Luc at 9:00 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
13 September 2006
Winning team on their way home
Vesa Lensu reports:
The winning team is on their way to home. After the flight the Belgian team went with the Finnish helpers to have a reindeer meal. After the meal they checked into a hotel in Inari. The night continued with having a sauna, the first time for the pilots and whole team.
In the morning, after having the breakfast, the pilots decided to drive south via Sweden. They said, that they have seen enough sea for this trip, now they'll go home by land.
Balloon is walked to road E6. From left Vesa Viinikka, pilot Philippe De Cock and in basket co-pilot Ronny Van Havere. Picture is taken by Vesa Viinikka and Tahvo Anttila.
Ps. Austria found their tractor and now they are on their way to Porvoo to meet Hartmann Abensdtein, half Finnish half Austrian balloonist, who offers them a after flight meal, and SAUNA ofcourse!
Posted by Luc at 11:53 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Thanks to ...
In this way I like to thank everybody, but really everybody, for the great help during this great 50th edition of the Gordon Bennett race.
Thanks also to all our sponsors and to Mr. J. De Clerck who allowed us to organise this beautiful race in a very nice environment.
Also many thanks to our hard working organisation team and people on the launch field and also many thanks to the people in the competition centre, they all really did a great job. We got a lot of positive reactions all over the world.
Also I will congratulate all the teams for making save landings, some of them of course with a very difficult retrieve. I think it was a very thrilling race, because most of the teams were flying a long time over the North See.Harry Vos
Event Manager GB 2006Posted by Luc at 11:37 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Back in 'Civilisation'
Wednesday, September 13, 10:30 local time Belgium
Benoît Siméons and Bob Berben (BEL 1) called in and were sitting in a CAR.
End of their wilderness trip.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Ludobuyle at 11:30 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
AUT landed in Finland
Good morning. AUT has landed. They are ok, but in need of a tractor.
All balloons are landed now. One team is already back in Belgium. All other teams are driving back now to the competition center for the administration and debriefing.
Today we put also the altitudes on the website.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 6:39 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
12 September 2006
Flying on through the night
AUT is flying on through the night, all other balloons have landed and recovered or recovery in process
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Luc at 11:10 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
USA 1 safe landed.
USA 1 landing safely at Position n61 34 and e20 10 at 18:25.
crew and balloon are already okay.mike
competition center gordon bennett 2006Posted by Luc at 10:11 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Jodelahitiii !!!
Tuesday September 12, 21:00 local time Belgium
SWI 3 has reported landing around 17:20 UTC in the vicinity of Kajaani, Finland.
Kurt Frieden sounded Very happy!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 9:00 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
First woman has landed.
Tuesday September 12, 20:30 local time Belgium
Danielle Francoeur and Leo Burman, Canada, have landed around 15:20 UTC in the vicinity of JOENSU in Finland. All ok. No problems with them, no problems with retrieve, and... a very good result!
Moniek Vande Velde
by the way: anyone bored with his nine-to-five job?
come and change for a most exiting five-to-nine job?
...and there's still three more to report landing...
Posted by Luc at 8:51 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Life can be tough in the Norwegian wilderness....
Tuesday September 12, 20:00, local time, Belgium
I have been trying to call
-mobile phone Benoît
-mobile phone Bob
-mobile phone Troy Bradley, crew chief
-satellite phone
-house Miche, Bob's wife
no answer anywhere...
finally house Anaïs, Benoîts wife...
Benoît and Bob have walked almost all day, on their own, helped by GPS waypoints, to reach a mountain hut. They have a nice fireplace, food and drink. What else does an adventurous man want?? Guess they will sleep well...
The helicopter could not come to pick them up today because of fog, and the weatherforecast for tomorrow is even worse.
Today the daylight period was to short to get the operation set up:
The local police will arrange for men to drive to the house as close as possible, and then they will have to march for another 5 hours.
Please don't try to phone them: they have put their mobile phones and satellite phone off to save batteries for should it get worse.
But apparently everything is well under control and well coordinated with the local police.
Anaïs expects them to fly home on Thursday or Friday.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 8:18 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Team USA landed
Tuesday, September 12, 17:30 local time Belgium
Richard Abruzzo and Phillip McNutt have landed at 14:50 Z in Finland 50 km short of the Russian border.
Very beautiful landscape he says, very nice people, màny people, and - luckily - one lady speaking English fluently.
No help required. Everything fine after a great flight.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 6:30 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Finnish sauna
Tuesday, September 12, 16:20 local time Belgium
David Hempleman-Davis (UK) and Martti Haapala (who volunteered to be standby for help) confirmed that both the balloon and the ENGLISH pilots have been retrieved.
David sounded far more relaxed than when he called me this morning after his 65 hrs flight.
When picking up the phone I wondered if the caller spoke English or Finnish....
Now they're together on their way to a finnish sauna in Pudasjärvi.
They might as well come to the Competition Centre: it's just like a sauna here: 26° outside, room under the rooftop, phones, faxes, computers....
Martti Haapala also reported that when BEL 3 crossed the Finland/Norway border near the Näätämo customs checkpoint the local customs officials looked to the sky and said: it is pretty difficult to check those guys...
They should have checked GER 1: when looking at Tomas' website I noticed that Völker Löschhorn was still wearing his Pilot Badge. Would he have thought this was an 'all countries visa'??
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 6:05 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Another report by Martti Haapala
David Hempleman-Adams & Jonathan Mason are now on the road, with their balloon in the car. Everything is OK!
I'm waiting till they finish sauna in Pudasjärvi. Pudasjärvi is located on the quickest way to south.With best regards
Martti HaapalaPosted by Ludobuyle at 4:52 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Information from Lapland
Martti Haapala reports:
Information from Lapland tells, that the leading team, Belgian 3, has
just crossed the border of Finland and Norway (at 14.40 Finnish time)
near Näätämö customs check point.The local customs officials looked to the sky and said, that "it is
pretty difficult to check those guys..."There is about 30 km to the sea from the border.
The British team has landed safely about 20 km east of Sodankylä and
the retreaving is in process.
Posted by Ludobuyle at 4:35 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
RUS have safely landed
ZDAZDROVIA ! HÖLÖKYN KÖLÖKYN !
RUS have safely landed in Finland, 60 km west of Tampere.
Great flight for their first participation!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Ludobuyle at 3:03 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Two minutes ago BEL3 reported landing
Tuesday september 12, 14:27 local time Belgium
still not fainted....
Two minutes ago BEL 3 reported landing on land!
And how!
The very best pilots: they landed their balloon just next to the road: how considerate towards to their crew! And that after 67 hours flight!
And the very greatest of all crews!
They were on the spot, on the North Cape, on the most memorable moment to film the landing!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director of the Coupe Gordon Bennett 2006,
and... never been this proud to be Belgian....
Posted by Ludobuyle at 2:34 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Eimers/Seel landed
GER 3 has landed, so if BEL 3 doesn't land in the water next Gordon Bennett will be out of Belgium
and now i'm going to faint
Moniek
Posted by Luc at 1:56 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Nailbiting race it is to the North Cape!
To the general public, pilots, crews, official.
Nailbiting race it is to the North Cape!
Please be informed that in this far deserted area satellites don't function optimally: our tracking system might possibly produce very funny movements or digits.
Be aware!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Luc at 12:53 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
'The last road before Russia ! Zdasdrovje!
Tuesday September 12, 12:30 local time Belgium
David Hempleman sounded very tired when he just reported he landed in the neighbourhood of SODANKYLA.
It is only 250 m from a track but not without problems. He asked for assistance. Hans Akerstedt has asked assistance of Hannu Tiitu and Risto Jaanen, who speak the local language and will get him help from the local police.
We'll drink wodka to this great result!
Zdasdrovje!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director (with beating heart and steaming ears...)
Posted by Luc at 12:52 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Landing in Finland on border Baltic
Tuesday, September 12, 10:45 local time Belgium
Walter Vollenweider - SWI 2 - reports having landed on the west coast of Finland, 100 km south of Vaasa, in the woods.
They are near a small road that leads to a motorway, and hope for their chase crew to reach them soon.
Both pilots are safe but very tired.
Also Tomas Hora reports the landing op GER 1 half an hour ago, 120 km ENE of that same Vaasa.
The pilots were not allowed to continue their trip any further on higher altitude since it was military airspace. They chose not to fly on lower altitude for meteorological reasons.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 11:05 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Report from Belgium 1
Tuesday, September 12, 10:30 local time Belgium
Bob Berben of BEL 1 just called in to report that the weather on their landing site is so bad that they cannot be reached by helicopter.
Brave volunteers from the local area are trying to come to their landing site, first by 4X4 as far as possible, and further on, on foot.
Benoît and Bob turned the basket on its side to make a sheltered bivouac for protection from the wind and rain. They are in good physical condition. Bob reports cold feet and Benoît requests female warmth :-).
Any lady volunteer? Exact co-ordinates are available at the Competition Centre.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
(I'd volunteer, but I am too curious for BEL 3, GER 3 and UK, so I stick to the computer screen)
Posted by Luc at 10:46 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Champagne all over Belgium!
Tuesday September 12, 07:40
Champagne early in the morning in the Competition Centre!
Champagne all over Belgium!
No team has ever flown a longer distance in a Coupe Gordon Bennett out of Europe than this present BEL 3 team: Philippe De Cock and Ronny Van Havere!!!
And they keep flying on. Stay in touch!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Ludobuyle at 7:56 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Closing Ceremony of the 50th Coupe Gordon Bennett
Tuesday September 12, 07:30 local time Belgium
To pilots and officials:
I hear there is some confusion as to the location of the Closing Ceremony.
Therefore confirmation:
The Closing Ceremony of the 50th Coupe Gordon Bennett will be held on Saturday September 16, in the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and the Military History, more specifically its Aeronautical Division, Jubelpark 3, 1000 Brussels (Belgium).
The location is most beautiful: the Cinquantenaire is a hughe 19th century arcade, beautifully illuminated at night, erected by King Leopold II on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Belgium.
This is the place where the very first Coupe resides, after the 1922-1923-1924 victory of Belgium by Ernest Demuyter, the man whose picture is on our posters.
The museum can be visited 09:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:30.
We kindly invite you to the Reception, the Awards Banquet and the Price-giving Ceremony.
The Reception starts at 18:00
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Ludobuyle at 7:37 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
We are very relieved to say that our website is operational again!
Tuesday, September 12, 05:00 local time Belgium
A long quiet night with Michaël Reichert in the Competition Centre, after a hectic day!
CAN and SWI 2 have reached Finland after a night crossing of the Baltic sea during the night.
GER 1, SWI 3, USA 1 & 2 are heading for Finland, over the Baltic.
AUT and RUS are in the same track, still in Sweden.
BEL 3, GER 3 and UK fly north of the Baltic Sea and are likely to cross the border to Finland soon. All swampy flatland, but how happy they will be with this after the dreadfull weather over the mountains. They are coming into Lapland now. The pilots helpfiles don't include Saamish...
Will they head north with slower winds or east-south-east with stronger winds?
And above all !??! Will BEL 3, that has now flown a distance of 2110 km by dawn break the European Gordon Bennett Distance record of 2191 km (flown by the French Maurice Bienaimé and René Rumpelmayer, flying from Stuttgart to the vicinity of Moscow)?
What a Centennial flight !!!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Ludobuyle at 7:14 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
News from Sweden
BEL 1 Crew Chief Troy Bradley has been connected to a helicopter in Mo i Rana, 100 km SW of the landing place. They will probably be lifted out tomorrow. All big helicopters in the area were busy with contracted work.
So thy will probably lift out the crew and equipment in several hops to nearest village 15-20 km away. Troy has contacted the local police.
Bob and Benoït have built a house and are enjoying outdoor life with snow and rain at 1200 m.
The nearest road is 15 km away.
Tomas Hora in GER 1 has cleaned his room and found more ballast so they are continuing.
HansPosted by Luc at 12:58 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
11 September 2006
Update - Monday, September 11, 21:00 Hr
Monday, September 11, 21:00 local time Belgium
The crew of FRA has just reported to the Competition Centre that Vincent Leÿs and Sébastien Rolland have landed in Sweden, in the neighbourhood of Västerfjaull.
Just like BEL 1 they are safe and sound; their balloon is ok; they will camp by their balloon.
The chase-crew is not very closeby yet, but they are confident to make a fine retrieve.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Luc at 9:05 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Update - Monday, September 11, 20:00
Monday, September 11, 20:00
BEL 1, Benoît Siméons and Bob Berben have reported they have landed safely.
They are not injured, their balloon is not damaged.
Their goal was to fly futher on, but they had to land because of heavy icing.
They landed in a very wild area in Norway (between Rana and Sorfold) not very long before sunset. Benoît and Bob decided to spend the night in their basket and ask for a helicopter in the morning.
They have good phone contact with us and with their crew and with Hans Akerstedt, CIA chairman of the Jury Board.
We are waiting to hear if the other balloons in the same area will land or fly through the night...
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Luc at 8:14 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Message from Hans Akerstedt
Monday, September 11, 07:15 local time Belgium
Now that 14 competitors had cross the North Sea, heading for Scandinavia.
I got this message from Hans Akerstedt:Message to all Gordon Bennett teams.
Welcome to Scandinavia.
50 billion mosquitos cannot be wrong.
It is a wonderful country.
But bring repellent and/or mosquito nets.I am on standby to assist
Good luck to all!
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Ludobuyle at 7:19 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
14 balloons are still airborne
Monday, September 11, 06:30 local time Belgium
As you have seen we had some major problems with the server. If the problem will come back please follow this link
At the moment 14 balloons are still airborne.
Sunday evening SWI 1, Christian Stoll & Walter Mattenberger, has landed north of Scarborough (UK). 14 balloons did cross the North Sea, some of them are now over land others are still looking for landfall.
Posted by Ludobuyle at 6:50 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
10 September 2006
Report of a safe landing
Sunday, September 10, 15:30 local time Belgium
Luc Van Geyte called to the competition room to report a safe landing of BEL 2 north of Leeds after a most beautiful flight.
He optimistically says: If all others would land on the water I'd be the winner :-))
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
(who optimistically says: first safe landing!Posted by Ludobuyle at 5:18 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
The first balloon has landed!
Almost one hour ago team Belgium 2, Luc Van Geyte & Rudy Paenen, put the D-OOWS 'Gladbeck' on the ground. Everything is alright, the crew was 130 km away. They hope to be back in Waasmunster tomorrow evening. Luc who is also the webmaster of this site will than further inform you about the race.
Posted by Ludobuyle at 4:11 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Through the photolens of Tomas Hora
Sunday, September 10, 12:00 local time Belgium
This morning we had a beautiful sunrise, as you can watch through the photolens of Tomas Hora
On the launchfield Jean Sax, Harry Vos and his (thinning) working team are breaking up the launching podium and collecting the garbage.
All pilots are all still in the air: some are flying over England: Would they be heading for Scarborough? It was the landing site of the Americans Lahm- Hersey on the very first Gordon Bennett flight in 1906.
The others are flying over the North Sea and apparently heading for Norway.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Ludobuyle at 1:26 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Take Off Times
01. 18h45 GBR 1 Hempleman-Adams / Mason (D-OWNT)
02. 18h50 CAN 1 Francoeur / Burman (D-OWML)
03. 18h54 BEL 1 Siméons / Berben (D-OBYN)
04. 18h56 FRA 1 Leÿs / Rolland (F-PPSE)
05. 19h00 GER 1 Hora / Löschhorn (D-OWBA)
06. 19h05 RUS 1 Fuodoroff / Grishin (RA-O454G)
07. 19h08 AUT 1 Stürzlinger / Fürstner (D-ORZL)
08. 19h11 SWI 1 Stoll / Mattenberger (HB-QHP)
09. No Start USA 3 Cayton / Suskin (N69RW)
10. 19h15 BEL 3 De Cock / Van Havere (D-OCOX)
11. 19h17 GER 2 Brachtendorf / Huthmacher (D-OBCW)
12. 19h20 SWI 3 Frieden / Zeberli (HB-QHJ)
13. 19h25 USA 2 MacNutt / Abruzzo (N801NM)
14. 19h29 BEL 2 Van Geyte / Paenen (D-OOWS)
15. 19h32 GER 3 Eimers / Seel (D-OWBI)
16. 19h34 SWI 2 Krebs / Vollenweider (D-OCFT)
17. 19h37 USA 1 Fricke / Cuneo (D-OPMB)Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Ludobuyle at 12:49 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
UK or Scandinavia... that's the question
Some of the Crewteams are still in Waasmunster and must now make the decision to drive to the UK or by mainland straight to Scandinavia.
By the way... the sky above Waasmunster was this morning back takeover by some hotair balloons.
Posted by Ludobuyle at 9:17 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
A beautiful morning!
Sunday, September 10, 08:00 local time Belgium
A beautiful morning!BEL 2 (Luc Van Geyte and Rudy Paenen) are, in spite of their small volume balloon (640 m3), making a very beautiful flight over England.
Also RUS 1, SWI 1, GER 2, GER 3 are flying over (Eng)land.
The 11 others are flying over water along the eastern coast of England in northernly direction.
They probably expect the rising sun to heat their balloon, which will allow them to climb and reach a more northeasterly track.
To the crews: the tracking system has sometimes not functioned optimally so far. It showed balloons landed, in error. In case of doubt, please contact the Competition Centre.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event DirectorPosted by Ludobuyle at 8:39 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
All balloons are still flying!
Sunday September 10, 06:30 belgian time local
During the night Belgium 3 (Philippe De Cock and Ronny Van Havere) and USA 2 (Philip McNutt and Richard Abruzzo) have been shown on the tracking screen as landed.
I confirm that both balloons are still safely flying, but at very low altitude.
Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Ludobuyle at 7:15 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
The Race is on!
Between 18.45 Hrs and 19.37 Hrs 16 gasballoons take off from Waasmunster for the 50th Gordon Bennett. One team, USA 3 Andy Cayton / Dan Suskin stay on the ground because off a leaking balloon, it would not be possible to reach Great-Britain and maybe later on Scandinavia. A sort flight to the Belgian coast was not an option.
Both pilots did wear wetsuits, so they had the intention to go on the North Sea AND for the victory!
Posted by Ludobuyle at 12:09 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
09 September 2006
Saterday September 9
Saturday September 9, 10:00 h local
6 balloons color the green grass and the blue sky of the Waasmunster launchfield.
The hydrogen is running through the hoses.
A very promising scene.
It will take some 6 more hours to get all balloons inflated, and if all goes well the first balloon will take off at 18:30h local.
Posted by Ludobuyle at 11:06 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Filling has started
The fillingoperation has started at 7.00 Hrs. The first balloon is standing up right now.
So it looks like they will take-off in the early evening today.
The expectations from some of the teams is to leave mainland and go for more than 1000 km of water to reach Scandinavia! It will be exiting!
Posted by Ludobuyle at 7:45 AM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
08 September 2006
Take off towards a magnificent sunset
The balloons are expected to take off from 18:30 onwards.
The launching of 17 balloons will last over an hour and will be a marvellous sight, since they will each take off towards a magnificent sunset: indeed , we expect the balloons to take off in a northwesterly direction.
They will each ascend with the sound of their national hymn.
Come and get goose bumps!Moniek Vande Velde
Event Director
Posted by Ludobuyle at 7:37 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
Startsequentie
After the General Briefing, from 15.30 Hrs, we do now know the take-off order.
1. GBR 1 Hempleman-Adams / Mason (D-OWNT)
2. CAN 1 Francoeur / Burman (D-OWML)
3. BEL 1 Siméons / Berben (D-OBYN)
4. FRA 1 Leÿs / Rolland (F-PPSE)
5. GER 1 Hora / Löschhorn (D-OWBA)
6. RUS 1Fuodoroff / Grishin (RA-O454G)
7. AUT 1 Stürzlinger / Fürstner (D-ORZL)
8. SWI 1 Stoll / Mattenberger (HB-QHP)
9. USA 3 Cayton / Suskin (N69RW)
10. BEL 3 De Cock / Van Havere (D-OCOX)
11. GER 2 Brachtendorf / Huthmacher (D-OBCW)
12. SWI 3 Frieden / Zeberli (HB-QHJ)
13. USA 2 MacNutt / Abruzzo (N801NM)
14. BEL 2 Van Geyte / Paenen (D-OOWS)
15. GER 3 Eimers / Seel (D-OWBI)
16. SWI 2 Krebs / Vollenweider (D-OCFT)
17. USA 1 Fricke / Cuneo (D-OPMB)
Beginning of inflation planned for 06.00 Hrs tomorrowmorning.
In order to get the balloons in the air early in the evening on Saterday!
The general direction is to the Northsea and hopefully later on to Norway.Posted by Ludobuyle at 7:15 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
31 August 2006
One week to go !
In case af doubt, just follow our clearly marked direction-posts.
They will lead you straight to where you want to goPosted by Luc at 8:10 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006
28 August 2006
Information for all !
The GB team is working hard to offer visitors a great day. Everybody is welcome at the launch field. The entry is free. Click on the map to find the location. But don't forget to visit the website to get all the information.
We will inform you at least 15 hours before take-off of filling and launch hours. Filling balloons, launch, etc... You can come very close to the balloons. Smoking is forbidden.
The launch window is open from 09-September till 11-September.
All this is possible thanks to all our sponsors. Use the menu-item links to visit them.
Download the maps : Click here
Posted by Luc at 11:57 PM | Email this to a friend
Category: GB2006