SWITZERLAND: MORE THAN 80 BALLOONS AND PILOTS FROM 20 COUNTRIES GATHER FOR THE 19TH INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON WEEK

Record ID: 646198

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: MORE THAN 80 BALLOONS AND PILOTS FROM 20 COUNTRIES GATHER FOR THE 19TH INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON WEEK
  • Date: 18th January 1997
  • Summary: CHATEAU D'OEX, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 18, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. BALLOONS PREPARING FOR ASCENT 2. WONDERBRA BALLOON INFLATING 3. BRASS BAND PLAYING BENEATH BALLOONS 4. ONLOOKERS 5. BALLONS IN FLIGHT 6. PEGGY BANISTER SAYING THERE IS NO REAL SENSATION IT IS JUST WONDERFUL - ESPECIALLY HERE (ENGLISH) 7. SWISS PATRICK PELLER SAYING IT IS SO SILENT, IT IS ANOTHER WORLD (FRENCH) 8. FOX / TELEPHONE BALLOONS 9. PICCARD SAYING HE (STEVE FOSSETT) HAS THE WORLD DISTANCE RECORD, HE IS A GREAT PILOT HE IS A GREAT GUY, I DON'T THINK HIS MATERIAL WILL GET HIM ALL THE WAY ROUND THE WORLD BUT I AM SURE HE CAN DO AT LEAST HALF OF IT (ENGLISH) Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 1997 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CHATEAU D'OEX, SWITZERLAND
  • City:
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVA4IDR8DFN4IZMLN5LVRXEK3Y9S
  • Story Text: Thousands of spectators from Switzerland, France, Germany Austria and Belgium arrived on Saturday (January 18) to enjoy the show.

    Many enthusiasts were talking about the progress of U.S.

    balloonist Steve Fossett who had passed Africa and was heading towards India on his non-stop world flight attempt.

    "There is nothing that makes you afraid", British balloonist Peggy Banister said of ballooning. "It is so quiet, so peaceful and so unforgettable. And you also enjoy such wonderful views, especially here." Swiss pilot Patrick Peller said: "Except the burners, you don't hear any noise. It is so quiet. It is like another world." Belgian pilot Wim Verstraeten and his Swiss colleague, Bertrand Piccard, were at the festival. They mounted their own unsuccessful attempt on the non-stop world record from Chateau d'Oex, failing six hours later when their Breitling Orbiter craft went down in the Mediterranean.

    "I am not surprised at all that Steve Fossett has gone so far, said Piccard. "He has already beaten his own distance record (8,747 kms). He is a great pilot and a great guy. But I don't think his material and his balloon will allow him to go all around the world.

    But I am sure he can do at least half of it." Most of the balloons and teams are sponsored by big companies who cash in on their donations by inviting special clients along to experience the thrills and spills of a balloon flight.

    The balloons usually cost between 50,000-100,000 U.S. dollars.


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