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 set to begin Saturday evening in Albuquerque with 17 international teams competing.
Teams aim to cover the greatest distance from their starting point, a challenge demanding exceptional physical endurance, mental resilience, and extensive knowledge of wind patterns and weather conditions.
Germany's Wilhelm Eimers, a five-time winner and record participant, and his son Benjamin are the team to watch in this historic event, which has a storied legacy of remarkable feats since its inception in 1906.
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.
