19th America's Challenge Balloon Race

ABQ Int. Balloon Fiesta ^ | October 7, 2014 | ABQ Int. Balloon Fiesta

[CedarDave]

The America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race was founded by the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in 1995 due to the vision and efforts of Mark Sullivan, former Balloon Fiesta President and recipient of the Montgolfier Diplome (one of ballooning's highest honors), who saw the need for America to be identified with the world's most prestigious ballooning sport.

The America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race is modeled after the Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, but it differs from the older event in allowing balloons from all countries, without limits on the number of entries from each. The team that travels the longest distance wins.

[CedarDave]

Seven race teams lifted off overnight Tuesday a.m. Four teams are from the U.S. with one each from Spain, Germany and Poland. One U.S. team, with a small balloon landed in east Albuquerque. The others are over the west Texas panhandle west and northeast of Lubbock.

A mapping link gives GPS updates every few minutes and the map shows relative positions. Below the map information on speed and direction are given (though not altitude - maybe because it would help other competitors).

Enjoy the race as it will continue for the next few days and weather permitting some participants will make it to the upper Midwest or even the east coast.

Gas Balloon Tracking Map

[CedarDave]

... (though not altitude - maybe because it would help other competitors)

Checking with a copy of the rules, organizers are not allowed to publish information regarding balloon altitudes during the flight.

Flight Instruments Each balloon must carry at least the following equipment:

• a) Altimeter
• b) Variometer
• c) Barograph or other altitude recording device (GPS,
• etc.)
• d) 720 channel VHF radio
• e) Strobe light with minimum brightness required for
• aircraft
• f) Beam light for night landing
• g) Electronic Navigational Aid or GPS
• h) Transponder with Mode C and 4096 codes or Mode S
• Transponder
• i) Emergency Locator Transmitter: (406 MHz)

[IYAS9YAS]

I work south of the launch grounds. The last two days have been absolutely great, as the winds were blowing from the north, and sending them all my direction.

I get the show, and don't have to deal with the traffic! Woo hoo!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[Disambiguator]

I used to work at Sun Healthcare, and we had a pretty good view of the proceedings from there.

[CedarDave]

Posted yesterday but didn't Ping the list. Still several teams flying over the Midwest.

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