Twelve Countries Participate in Annual Hot Air Balloon Race

Balloonists from 12 different countries launched late on Sept. 18 from Germany for the start of aviation’s oldest and most prestigious hot air balloon race. Forty eight pilots in 24 balloons set off individually under the glare of floodlights. Switzerland, USA, Germany, France and Belgium entered three teams, while Poland and the UK started with two teams. Netherlands, Lithuania, Spain, Austria and Australia are competing with one team. Among the competitors taking part are the 2014 champions from Germany. The premise of the race hasn’t changed much over the past 60 years. The balloon that goes the furthest, wins. This year the pilots are heading south from Germany towards France, Spain and the Mediterranean. Poor weather over the Alps means pilots will have to use the wind to track west of the mountains, possibly heading out over the Mediterranean to the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The winners could land in Crete or mainland Greece, a straight-line distance of roughly 1,200 miles.