U.S.A.: BALLOONING: FORMER ARMY OFFICER SETS OFF IN ATTEMPT TO BECOME FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC BY BALLOON.

Record ID: 1063731

  • Title: U.S.A.: BALLOONING: FORMER ARMY OFFICER SETS OFF IN ATTEMPT TO BECOME FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC BY BALLOON.
  • Date: 20th February 1974
  • Summary: 1. GV & CU Balloons in hangar 0.13 2. CU ZOOM OUT TO GV Gondola 0.16 3. SCU Reporter with pilot 0.19 4. SCU Gatch speaking (SOUND) 0.45 5. GV EXTERIOR Balloon being brought out onto runway 0.48 6. CU Gatch 0.51 7. CU Men releasing balloons 0.56 8. CU & GV Gondola floating away 1.10 THOMAS GATCH: "Well, I like to hope that other aircraft in the area know where I am. Balloons have by international agreement the right of way, but that's like a pedestrian crossing a highway. I would like to hope that everyone knows where I am and they will respect the fact that I am not unmenoeuvrable, unsteerable, but my means of control is up and down, not left and right." Initials BB/1735 AS/AH/BB/1751 The commentary on this film by reporter Leroy Bell is for guidance only. An alternative commentary is printed overleaf. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th March 1974 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Access Restrictions:This media cannot be downloaded as there may be copyright restrictions. Please contact us for more information
  • Location: HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA23ZGCW6V5TMX0HMDOC1JB9Z0O
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text:Former United States' Army officer Thomas Gatch is hoping to become the first person to cross the Atlantic -- by balloon. Early on Tuesday morning Gatch set off in his ten-balloon gondola from the International Airport at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the United States' east coast. He was assisted at his launching by several dozen volunteers. He hopes it will only take five days to cross the ocean, and he expects to land in either southern France or Spain.

    If a forced landing is necessary over the ocean, the white gondola -- "Light Heart" - -will float. Only an hour after departure, Gatch radioed that one of the ten balloons had burst, and he had lost height, but despite this early set-back, the 48-year-old Virginian was determined to press on.

    In a pre-flight interview, Gatch told newsmen that his main worry was passing aircraft:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register