Where? When? Why?

As I write the teams have been airborne approximately 24 hours. They have completed their first night and would be committed to another day in their baskets to try to fulfil their strategic flight plans.

Word has come through to the Command Centre that Poland 2 has landed with a distance of 219.17km. Krzysztof Zapart and co-pilot Adam Ginalski flew across the Alps with a heading towards Milano landing close to the edge of Lake Maggiore, Italy. Time 17.50 CEST. May have had transponder and radio concerns heading towards the busy Milano airspace.

GB 1 John Rose & Ann Rich second balloon to land east of Nantes with a distance of 414.13km. 19.10CEST. Why? Pilot decision.

As night approaches then settles in, what may the Spanish pilots be thinking? It has already been reported that their balloon burst on inflation. Consequently they were loaned a German gas balloon and after a hurried inflation met the launch time for the podium lift off. Huge cheers from the crowd and other balloon crews surrounded their basket as they floated towards the stars. Pilots Angel Aguirre and Anulfo Gonzales Redondo may surprise us all with their final placing in this challenging race.

One of my favourite sayings is “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T. S. Eliot

What will tomorrow bring?

Krzysztof Zapart (L) Adam Ginalski(R)