Gas ballooning has a history dating back to the
"Charliere" in Paris in 1783. The first gas flight took place the same
year the Mongolfier Brothers discovered that hot air also rises.
In 1785, it has been told that the first American to fly in a gas
balloon was Dr. John Jefferies, he crossed the English Channel with
Jean Pierre Blanchard. John Pierre later flew near Washington, DC in
1793 as George Washington looked on.
During the Civil War, gas balloons were used for observation and the
Union had seven balloons in it's fleet.
In the midwest, the first recorded gas balloon flight from St. Louis,
was in 1830 and around 1859, John Wise flew from St. Louis to Lake
Ontario, over 1,200.00 miles. The St. Louis World's Fair hosted several
airship races and balloon ascensions. In 1996, the National Gas Balloon
Race was the first gas competition to be held in St. Louis since 1909.
On September 30, 1906 an American Newspaper owner James Gordon Bennett, sponsored the first Gordon Bennett International Balloon Race. Sixteen Balloons took off from Paris, the winner, Frank P. Lahm, an American, landed 22 hours later near Whitby, England. The Gordon Bennet was called off during the wars and revived in 1979.
The country that wins the event, then hosts the next year's race. In October of 1999, Albuquerque, New Mexico hosted the Gordon Bennett and it was won by the Belgium Team. Three American Teams competed in the race in Belgium in September of 2000 and again in 2001. The French hosted the event in 2002.2008 Gordon Bennett 2005 America's Challenge Albuquerque Gas Ballooning Association
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2008 Coupe de Gordon Bennett
& America's Challenge Gas Ballloon Race
2005
Coupe de Gordon Bennett
& America's Challenge Gas Ballloon Race
America's
Challenge Launch - 2000
America's
Challenge Launch - 2000
CargoLifter sponsors Jazz Bird 2000
America's Challenge - 1998
CargoLifter sponsors Jazz Bird 2000
