Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship

16.05.2008 11:35 | Lithuania

The exclusive ballooning Event – 1st International Hot Air Airship championship and 16 Open Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship will be held in Vilnius on 21-25 May, 2008.

This will be the biggest balloon event in Lithuania and all the Baltic’s since 13th European Hot Air Balloon Championship in Vilnius in 2003. At least 37 competition and 7 fiesta pilots from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Check Republic, Russia and Joint Arab Emirates have registered to take part in the event. Generally, more than 40 hot air balloons will colour Vilnius sky every day on 21 – 25 May.

This will be the first time in Lithuania and all the Baltic’s to compete not only the best hot air balloon pilots, but also 4 airships from Lithuania, Russia and Poland.

Vilnius Vingis park will be the main launch field both for balloons and airships. While balloons will launch and fly away, airships will start and land in the same field every time. This is a great advantage of an airship to have a propeller and a possibility to come back to the same place. Surely, both balloons and airships depend on weather, so if weather is not favour, a flight may be cancelled, postponed or moved to Trakai or other place.

7 colourful flights are planned over Vilnius and nearby during all the event, the beautiful night parade and night glow at the White Bridge on 23 or 24 May. Fiesta flying and passengers are welcome on board.

The Programme:

21 May, 2008 (Wednesday)
9.00 – 15.00 Check in (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
16.00 – 17.00 General Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower)
18.30 – 19.30 Competition flight for Balloons
19.00 – 20.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
20.00 – 23.00 Refuelling
(22.00 – 24.00) Opening Ceremony (may be postponed to
the day, when weather is bad).

22 May, 2008 (Thursday)
5.15 – 5.30 Morning Coffee (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
5.30 – 5.45 Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
6.00 – 8.00 Competition flight for Balloons
6.00 – 8.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
9.00 – 12.00 Refuelling
18.00 – 18.15 Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
18.30 – 19.30 Competition flight for Balloons
19.00 – 20.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
21.00 – 23.00 Refuelling

23 May, 2008 (Friday)
5.15 – 5.30 Morning Coffee (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
5.30 – 5.45 Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
6.00 – 8.00 Competition flight for Balloons
6.00 – 8.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
9.00 – 12.00 Refuelling
18.00 – 18.15 Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
18.30 – 19.30 Competition flight for Balloons
19.00 – 20.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
22.30 – 23.30 Night Parade and Night Glow (White Bridge)
21.00 – 01.00 Refuelling

24 May, 2008 (Saturday)
5.15 – 5.30 Morning Coffee (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
5.30 – 5.45 Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
6.30 – 8.00 Competition flight for Balloons
6.00 – 8.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
9.00 – 12.00 Refuelling
18.00 – 18.15 Briefing (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
18.30 – 19.30 Competition flight for Balloons
19.00 – 20.00 Competition Flight for Airships (Vingis Park)
22.30 – 23.30 Night Parade and Night Glow (reserve)
21.00 – 01.00 Refuelling

25 May, 2008 (Sunday)
5.15 – 5.30 Morning Coffee (Vilnius TV Tower, ground floor)
5.30 – 5.45 Briefing (reserve)
6.30 – 8.00 Competition flight for Balloons (reserve)
6.00 – 8.00 Competition Flight for Airships (reserve)
11.00 – 14.00 Closing Ceremony, Award Party (Vilnius TV
Tower,19 fl., restaurant “Paukščių takas”).