The 66th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, the world's premier balloon race, is set to take off from Albuquerque, New Mexico, featuring 17 gas balloons and crews competing for the longest distance flight in a historic aviation challenge.
The 66th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, the world's most prestigious long-distance gas balloon race, is hosted by the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta featuring 17 international crews.
Teams compete to cover the greatest distance, demanding exceptional physical endurance, mental resilience, and a profound understanding of wind and weather to overcome challenges like fatigue and extreme temperatures.
Germany's Wilhelm and Benjamin Eimers, a highly accomplished father-son duo who won last year, are highlighted as the team to watch among the global participants.
The 66th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett—-the world’s most prestigious gas balloon race that’s also known as the FAI World Long Distance Gas Balloon Championship—is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. MDT (1 a.m. Sunday UTC).
The event will be hosted by the renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, with 17 crews ascending to the skies in pursuit of victory.
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Amy Wilder fell in love with airplanes at age 8 when her brother-in-law took her up in a Cessna 172. Pretty soon, Amy's bedroom walls were covered with images of vintage airplanes, and she was convinced she'd be a bush pilot in Alaska one day. She became a journalist instead, which is also somewhat impractical—but with fewer bears. Now she's working on her private pilot certificate and ready to be a lifelong student of the art of flying.
