22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship

2016 FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Saga

FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship is the competition by the representative balloonists from member nations belonging to Federation Aeronwutique Internationale (FAI). Since the 1st championship in 1973, it has been held once every year, and its host site is chosen by the election in the Plenary Meeting of Committee International Aerostatic (CIA).

22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in 2016 was decided by the election at the plenary meeting in Lausanne Switzerland, March 2014, and Saga was chosen keeping Albuquerque, USA, in check.

Holding FAI Hot Air Balloon Championship in Saga is the third time, the first time was the 9th championship in 1989, and next was the 13th in 1997.

［Reference］Official Site of FAI

Outline of 22nd World Hot Air Balloon Championship

  • 2016 Outline

    • Event Name

    22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship / 2016 Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix -Final Round-

    Event Location

    Kase Riverside, Saga City

    Event Dates

    October 28th (Fri.) to November 6th (Sun.), 2016
    * 2016 Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix : Oct.28 (Fri) ～ 30(Sun)

    Hosting Organizations

    2016 Saga World Hot Air Balloon Championship Organizing Committee
    (Japan Aeronautic Association, Japan Balloon Federation, Saga Prefecture, Saga City, Saga International Balloon Fiesta Organization, and others)

    Main Manager

    2016 Saga World Hot Air Balloon Championship Executive Committee

    Sanctioning Organizations

    22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship / The World Air Sports Federation (FAI), The International Ballooning Commission (CIA) 2016 Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix -Final Round- / AirB
    *2016Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix was sanctioned by Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix Management Organization（Air-B）

    Numbers of participating teams

    100 representative pilots from FAI member nations, and include
    　・the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in 21st FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship
    　・the champion of 2nd Junior World Hot Air Balloon Championship
    　・the champion of 1st FAI Women's World Hot Air Balloon Championship
    Total 105 pilots（ballons）
    *There were 186 balloons all together including Hot Air Blloon Honda Grand Prix, Fiesta, Fantasia, and official balloons.

    Past host sites and the champions

    TimeYearLocationBallons Champion
    1st1973Albuquerque, USA14 ctys./32 ballons Dennis Floden
    2nd1975Albuquerque, USA15 ctys./34 ballons David Schaffer
    3rd1977 York, England 22 ctys./51 ballons
    -Japan's first participation-    		 Paul Woessner
    4th1979 Uppsala, Sweden 16 ctys./33 ballons Paul Woessner
    5th1981 Battle Creek, USA 21 ctys./82 ballons Bruce Comstock
    6th1983 Nantes, France 20 ctys./70 ballons Peter Vizzard
    7th1985 Battle Creek, USA 23 ctys./98 ballons David Levin
    8th1987 Schielleiten, Austria 23 ctys./98 ballons Albert Nels
    9th1989 Saga, Japan 25 ctys./102 ballons Benedikt Haggeney
    10th1991 St.Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada 26 ctys./101 ballons Albert Nels
    11th1993 La Rochette, Luxembourg 32 ctys./101 ballons Alan Blount
    12th1995 Battle Creek, USA 33 ctys./86 ballons Joe Heartsill
    13th1997 Saga, Japan 38 ctys./112 ballons David Bareford
    14th1999 Bad Waltersdorf, Austria 32 ctys./90 ballons Bill Arras
    15th2002 Châtellerault, France 36 ctys./99 ballons David Bareford
    16th2004 Mildura, Australia 30 ctys./87 ballons Markus Pieper
    17th2006 Motegi, Japan 36 ctys./66 ballons John Petrehn
    18th2008 Hofkirchen, Austria 36 ctys./98 ballons François Messines
    19th2010 Debrecen, Hungary 34 ctys./129 ballons John Petrehn
    20th2012 Battle Creek, USA 29 ctys./103 ballons
    		 Nick Donner
    21st2014Rio Claro, Brasil22 ctys./58 ballons Yudai FUJITA
    22nd2016 Saga, Japan 31 ctys./105 ballons Rhett HEARTSILL
    23rd2018 Groß-Siegharts, Austria 34 ctys./105 ballons Dominic BAREFORD
    24th2022 Murska Sobota, Slovenia ctys./ ballons
    ctys=countries

    *World Air Games, called as Olympic of sky sports, has been held once every 4 years since 1997, so that the World Hot Air Championship has delayed by one year at the 15th championship in 2002, and it has been held in the even-numbered year not to be held with the same year of World Air Games.

    Japanese site

    ［熱気球世界選手権］

    Last Modified: 2018.10.23

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