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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 1071.PDF
FLIGHT International, 5 July 1962 23 BALLONFEST A Lighter-than-air Sporting Interlude BY GEOFFREY HANCOCK "We surged upwards , . . gradually the sounds of fiesta died away and were replaced by a silence through which the sounds of the countryside began to filter . . ." WE arrived late at the Dongen Sportspark on the eve of De Zilveren Luchtballon, the international balloon race held by Holland's Haagsche Ballonclub on June 16. Our party consisted of a basket crew of two, plus independent "juryman," and three ground crew. It was the latter's job to follow the race by car and, by skilful use of the map, anticipate our track and final landing plan, keeping in touch by motor horn, lung power or any other means of communication. Our late arrival was due to a lhr 20min delay on the Southend - Rotterdam Carvair service, and on entering the Sportspark we spotted four humps—our competitors' balloons, already partially inflated in the fading light. Fortunately the meeting had been very well organized and we were able to get a good night's sleep while the inflation was supervised by members of the club. On returning to the Sportspark on the following morning we were confronted with the sight of five fully inflated balloons, resplendent in the early morning sun. Picking our way between the maze of gas pipes laid on the ground we met the other teams who were to fly in the race. From Belgium there were Albert van den Bemden, with over 240 flights to his credit, flying Tore (500m3), and Francois Schaut, whose family has fifty years of ballooning experi ence, and who in company with B. Haanstra was flying 00-BGN (700m3). Representing Holland were two members of the Haagsche Ballonclub—Jan Boesman, completing his 175th flight during the race and flying with J. Brouwer in Utrecht (600m3); and Ben Steeman, flying alone on his 25th flight in the small Oxygenium (500m3). Finally, there was Anthony Smith, representing the UK and making his 13th flight, in Jambo (750m3), with myself as ballast, map reader, high-tension-cable spotter, wind diviner and emergency sandbag evacuator. During the morning the stadium and seats lining the Sportspark began to fill, and the combination of flags, music and (later) speeches made it an authentic ballonfest. The briefing of the crews was accompanied by the marching and countermarching of no fewer than five different bands headed by the Fanfare St Hubertus Dongen and led by bandmajorettes who performed prodigies with their batons. By some happy chance the makers of the soft drink known as 7 Up had combined their ministrations with those of the Haagsche Ballonclub: so not only were all five balloons draped with great "7 Up" banners (fortunately no British MP was present to take offence at this harmlessly colourful gesture—aerial advertising is now forbidden in the UK) but crates of the beverage were being liberally distributed amongst the thirsty bal loonauts, and the bottoms of the ballon baskets were later found to be filled with bottles of it. mmr iMtkiii IJH'lfJ A Anthony Smith, assisted by his wife Barbara, prepares his trail rope before the start. The rope is paid out shortly before touchdown, and the progressive loss of its weight, combined with drag, helps to check the downward and for ward speed of the balloon
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