David Hempleman-Adams will be piloting a small gas balloon, no bigger than most people`s front rooms, from St John's, Newfoundland, Canada, to Europe. This will be a new FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) world record in distance. The 3425 km journey could take four days, depending on the weather.
This is unique compared to other transatlantic flights because it is solo and in an open wicker basket open to the elements. No one has ever flown the Atlantic in a balloon as small as this.
David Hempleman-Adams has taken off for the Toshiba Transatlantic Challenge from Feildian Grounds in St John’s New Foundland at 00.00 GMT this morning (01.00 UK time).Shortly after take off he disappeared into cloud and had to climb for nearly 5000 ft before rising into clear skies.
Nigel Mitchell, the logistics director, who witnessed the launch said, “It was a perfect launch although the local conditions were not great. There was a light mist and David flew up into the milky misty murk.”
A large crowd had gathered and shortly before take off a little girl went up to David and gave him a Canadian penny for luck. Bert Padelt, the balloon designer, said the balloonist’s prayer. Bert said, “David was relieved and anxious to get away It’s always an emotional moment when the pilot looks you in the eye before launch. There’s a long look, nothing is said, you cut the line and off he goes.”
Hempleman-Adams hopes to break the existing distance record for the AA06 class of balloon by completing a solo flight in an open wicker basket over the Atlantic towards Europe. This is the smallest gas balloon ever to attempt this flight. The journey is expected to take about four days.
Luc Trullemans, one of the world’s leading meteorologists, will be providing the weather information throughout the flight.
You can track his flight on his BLOG HERE
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