AMERICA’S CHALLENGE 2011 Albuquerque (USA)
Gas Balloon Competition
The team formed by Madrilenian Anulfo González and Catalonian Angel Aguirre will participate in the next edition of the America's Challenge that will start from next October 1 from Albuquerque (New Mexico, USA).
This is the most important gas balloon race with the Gordon-Bennett Cup, the goal of both competitions is to make the greatest distance nonstop. Gas balloons, which use helium or hydrogen as a lifting gas, can fly up to 4 days continuously and it is possible to make long distances if the weather and other factors permit.
This competition takes place during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is the largest ballooning event in the world involving 800 hot air balloons for 10 days and has an audience of 100,000 spectators. Media coverage is extensive and has the Guinness Record for being the most photographed event in the world. You can follow the development of competition and the trajectories of the balloons from the website www.balloonfiesta.com and in the Facebook group of the team http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/154327061322105.
This is the first Spanish participation in this competition, and the reappearance of gas balloons in our country since the 30's. To do this, pilots have obtained the first gas balloon licenses issued by the State Aviation Safety Agency and the night flight rating required for this competition.
Both pilots have a long history of international competitions and expeditions, among which we should highlight:
Anulfo González Redondo
(Operations Director of Flying Circus S.L. – Aerotours)
- • First flight in history over the North and South Poles
- • Hot air balloon expeditions to Bhutan, Bolivia, Israel, Turkey
- • General Vives Trophy
- • Diego Criado del Rey Trophy
- • Spanish National Subchampion
- • Kings Cup Champion
Angel Aguirre
(Operations Director of Globus Grial – Kontiki)
- • Four times champion in the Spanish Nationals (1999, 2000, 2008, 2010)
- • First expedition crossing the Baltic Sea with a hot air balloon
- • Long distance record of hot air balloon flight in the Amazons
- • Hot air balloons expeditions over Africa, Amazons, Greenland
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