2022 Event Will Take Place In Switzerland In Their Honor

Kurt Frieden and Pascal Witpräechtiger of Team SUI-2, Switzerland, received their medals and trophies in Torun, Poland in late August, following their win of the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett. The historic gas balloon race has one simple goal: to fly the furthest non-stop distance from the launch site.

Frieden and Witpräechtiger were the last crew to be airborne and flew 2.22 miles** further than the competitors behind them. This gained their victory after they landed in Les Landes Genusson in France on Wednesday, August 25th. Total airtime was 85 hours after traveling 969 miles from the launch site in Aeroklub Pomorski in Poland.

"The patience and persistence paid off," team SUI-2 said at the awards ceremony in Torun late August. "We had stopped believing it would work. But it is not only the victory that counts, just the participation results in unforgettable moments."

This marks the 64th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, which brought together 15 teams from six countries – Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the USA.

Many meteorological concerns and technical issues were concerning the pilots and finally the competition only included the final three teams -- FRA-2, FRA-1, and SUI-2.

FRA-1 was in the lead most of the way across France, but landed first of the three. The father-son team of Hervé Jules Moine and Hervé André Moine landed after 69 hours in the air, covering a distance of approximately 809 miles.

After discarding their boots and other items, FRA-2 pilots Eric Decellieres and Benoit Havret made their exit from the competition after 80 hours and 53 minutes in the air and traveling a distance of approximately 967 miles.

Finally, the winners who trailed behind through most of France, SUI-2 won four hours after FRA-2 landed after traveling the winning distance of approximately 969 miles.

"Congratulations to all teams on their achievements," they said. "It was not an easy weather situation and it demanded everything from us." The 2022 Gordon Bennett, will be held in St Gallen Switzerland in honour of their victory.  ** All measurements have been converted from the metric system and are approximate.

FMI: www.fai.org/gordonbennett