Premier US Gas Balloon Race Is In The Air!!
In what race offcials properly noted to be a 'a beautiful and
moving midnight ballet of light and motion, the six America’s
Challenge balloons finally headed skyward on a beautiful, calm
early Saturday morning in Albuquerque' -- and ANN has been
privileged to be a part of the action this week...
The launch began with an emotional ceremony honoring friends and
fellow competitors Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis, who
disappeared nine days ago during a similar race, the Coupe Gordon
Bennett, and have not been found. Richard had been scheduled to
compete in the America’s Challenge with former New Mexico
Governor Gary Johnson.
The America’s Challenge competitors afforded Richard and
Carol the ceremonial first position in the competition order. As
per tradition, the US National Anthem was played and at the end of
the anthem, competitors, officials, and spectators released white
balloons carrying aloft good wishes and prayers for Richard and
Carol. On the launch platform, Richard’s brothers Benny and
Louis and Carol’s husband John, daughter Heather, and
grandson Ryan released the first two balloons. In the background
glowed two splashes of color – Richard Abruzzo’s hot
air balloon “Peak Express” and Carol Rymer Davis’
hot air balloon “Raggedy Ann.”
Richard and Carol's Hot Air
Balloons
A few minutes later , the first of the competitors, the team of
Phil Bryant and Phil MacNutt, were walked to the launch platform
and lifted off, followed in rapid sequence by the other five
balloons. All were aloft by 12:45 AM MDT (0645Z). As they gained
altitude they began to head southeast towards Tijeras Canyon at the
southern end of the Sandia Mountains.
The object of the race is to fly the greatest distance from
Albuquerque. Trajectory forecasts suggest the balloons are likely
to head fairly directly east across the country – but who
knows what secret strategies our wily teams have up their
sleeves.
The America's Challenge Command Center will provide regular
updates and landing reports as the race progresses, and you can
access the updates through the link above the map on the tracking
page.
In launch order, the competing teams are:
- Phil Bryant, Houston, TX/Phil McNutt, Austin, TX
- Barbara Fricke/Peter Cuneo, Albuquerque, NM
- Bert Padelt, Barto, PA/Louis Vitanza, Hillsborough, NJ
- Cheri White, Austin, TX/Mark Sullivan, Albuquerque, NM
- Troy Bradley, Albuquerque, NM/Shane Robinson, Joplin, MO
- Danielle Francoeur, Montreal, Quebec, Canada/Linda Ellis, San
Jose, CA