The 38th Irish Hot Air Ballooning Championship will take place in Waterford from 21st - 26th. September 2008.
Details from
Meet Director: Joe Daly
Email: joe@joedaly.comMeet
Meet Administrator: Oliver Lupton
Email: oliver_lupton@hotmail.com
More World Records for Pauline Baker
5th December 2007
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale has now ratified the following Class A (Free balloons) records:
Size category AX-01(Hot-air balloons: 250 m³ and less) Feminine Category
Date: 26.01.2007
Type of record : Duration
Course/location : Saanen (Switzerland)
Performance : 1 hour 40 min
Balloon : Lindstrand LBL-9A
Current record : 1h 11 min 12 sec (16.01.1983 - Stephanie SHINN, USA)
Date: 26.01.2007
Type of record : Altitude
Course/location : Saanen (Switzerland)
Performance : 458 m
Balloon : Lindstrand LBL-9A
Current record : 143.95 m (29.07.1978 - Katherine E. BOLAND, (USA)
Date: 27.01.2007
Type of record : Distance
Course/location : Château d'Oex (Switzerland) - Rougemont (Switzerland)
Performance : 6.59 km
Balloon : Lindstrand LBL-9A
Current record : 4.81 km (29.07.1978 - Katherine E. BOLAND, (USA)
Again Congratulations!
January 14th 2007, Italy
Pauline Baker today broke the female AX-2 distance world record. The previous record was 18.1km and Pauline travelled 22.75km in G-BVKX flying from Monguelfo, Italy to Sillian, Austria (1h 16m).
Congratulations!
January 7th 2007, Brunico, Northern Italy
Today, Pauline Baker broke the female World Records in categories AX-2 and AX-3. The previous records for these categories of balloons (250 - 400 m3 capacity) was 2h 40min set in 1975.
The flight was carried out in a Colt 14A balloon - G-BVKX. Pauline flew in a harness with two 60 litre titanium fuel cylinders.
The flight took place in the Brunico valley where light winds were forecast. The surface temperature was -3 deg C and a strong temperature inversion kept the conditions very stable.
Within several minutes of launching, a fog bank crept into the area from a northern valley meaning that Pauline had limited visibility. The first fuel tank was dropped to the ground after 2 hours in the air from a height of about 3 feet. Pauline flew for 3h 36 mins before landing in Fassine, Italy only a short distance from where the launch took place with less than 5% fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
Unfortunately, weather conditions in the Alpine areas has been very mild for this time of year and this would have significantly reduced the duration that could have been expected.
Gentleman Jim Chubbuck
Sadly our dear friend Jim Chubbuck passed away on 26th September 2006. Ironically many of his ballooning friends were remembering him at Willie Donlon’s bar in Kilashee that afternoon.
We had flown from Athlone on a task of the 36th Irish Meet and had landed nearby. Willie Donlon’s is a place where Big Jim and his fellow Americans had many a session and which holds fond memories for those who attended the early Irish Meets at the Newcastle House Hotel in Ballymahon.
It was at the Irish Meet in the early 80’s that Big Jim endeared himself to all who met him. His warm heart, succinct words of wisdom and philosophical outlook on life was a joy for all who shared his company.
Many will remember his ‘Huggy Bear’ pins that he bestowed on those whom he admired, his calling card that described his numerous talents, and of course his balloon ‘Levity’
He was a real Gentleman Jim and will be sadly missed.
New Ballooning Club formed in sunny South East.
Oliver Lupton and Joe Daly have now set up the Waterford Ballooning Club which is affiliated to the Irish Ballooning Association. There has been huge local interest and they have already recruited several new members.
