15th World championship of hot air balloons



	XVth World championship of hot-air balloons In August 23 - September 1-st, 2002 - Châtellerault

GORDON BENNETT : VICTORY OF FRANCE 1
(September 4th)
The 'Petit Prince' has landed safely at 20.12 Z although more than 1 hour after sunset and in complete darkness !
Position : 37° 31.683 ' N 8° 46.100' W

2002 to 2004 ...
Time flies, and here we are already at the end of this XVth World hot air balloon championship. In our minds, a multitude of colored balloons floating in the chatellerault sky and a host of wonderful memories of famous pilots with whom we spent marvellous moments. We thank them !
Now let's pass the torch to the Australian organizers for 2004 and we wish them Happy Flying !!!

RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION (30th August - PM)
After the last tasks, the total score is:

1er N° 3, BAREFORD David, Great Britain
2ème N° 23, JONES Steve, United States
3ème N° 8, BALKEDAL Jan, Sweden

The datasheet
Task result #13
Task result #14
Task result #15

FROM ONE COMPETITION TO ANOTHER (september 1st)
The 15th Hot Air Balloon World Championhip ended yesterday under the sun in the presence of about 80,000 people. The prize ceremony took place in...

READY, FIRE, GO !
Don't miss the great prize of the City of Châtellerault with the competitors, the French pilots and the fiesta balloons. For this pole race, after take-off from the close surroundings of the city, the balloons must join as fast and as close as possible a target, a pole installed on the aerodrome. You will admire the skill of the pilots during the maneuvers for approach and landing friday august 30th in Châtellerault.

OPENING CEREMONY AUGUST 30th ... BUT...
This time it is the 46th Gordon Bennett Aeronautical Cup. Created in 1906, this aeronautical cup is the oldest and the most prestigious of aeronautical races. Since the very beginning it is only the 4th time that the departure is from France and the 1st time is outside of Paris.

NIGHT FLIGHT…
At 22h30 will take place the departure of the 46th Gorgon Bennett Cup. In each of the gas balloons, two pilots are associated to fly as far as possible, night and day, constantly fighting to obtain the best flight path and speed. The winner will be the crew having covered the longest distance.
It will really be 'stepping on the gas'!

250 HOT AIR BALLOONS
Unique ! 250 hot air balloons will take off from the aerodrome site for the delight of our eyes. These balloons are competition balloons, fiesta balloons and many many other pilots who come for the closing of this beautiful festival.

HIGH AND COLORFULL
Among all the balloons of the worldschampionship, we have been told that the most colorfull and admired balloon is Jonathan Wolfe's fiesta F50 named 'Gloria Caeli'.
The thirty-year-old American coming from New Mexico, born in Albuquerque, a city known for its high level of competition, was raised from childhood under a sky of balloons.
As sportartist he uses his balloon as his canvass. It is true that his balloon with 'fractal arabesques' of many colours floating in the air seeming to integrate with the blue sky as a magnificent painting.

SPECTACULAR !
At nightfall, in a very peculiar ambiance, the balloons will take-off
slowly, lighting up the dark sky with thousands of lights. A colorful and impressive exhibition which will fascinate young and old spectators; it is a Night Glow of Châtellerault.