Sean's Bar's Hot-air Balloon Breaks Records
The AX-3 hot-air balloon, piloted by Pauline Baker, of Trim, Co. Meath, goes on the break 2 world records in duration and distance.
In September 2005, a female hot air balloon pilot, Pauline Baker, of Trim, Co. Meath, piloted herself into the record books. Following months of planning, Pauline flew a small, one-person balloon for over 90km and for 4hrs 2mins smashing both existing female World Records in that category of balloon that had been set some 30 years earlier. This momentous flight took place from Athenry, Co. Galway with a landing in Ballinacarrigy, near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. This was the first time ever that an aviation World Record had been won in Ireland for manned flying.
Hot Air Balloons are categorised depending upon their volume. These categories are given the prefix AX and range from AX-1 (smallest) to AX-15 (largest). The term AX defines Hot Air Balloons (for example, BX is Hot Air Airships and AA is Gas Balloons). Balloons from AX-1 to AX-4 can typically only carry one person with the AX-1 balloon only able to lift the lightest pilot in extremely cold conditions. The records that Pauline won in 2005 were in the AX-4 category (up to 31,000 cu ft).
There are three types of record per balloon size category - Distance, Duration and Altitude. The records are further broken down into the 'General' category, open to all and 'Female' records for female only flight crew. Pauline will be attempting records in both General and Female categories to prove that female pilots are as skilled as their male counterparts.
Not content with the two World Records, the team decided that further records should be attempted. With this in mind, and following a huge amount of planning, the team will be heading out to the Italian and Swiss Alps in January 2007 to make attempts at records in the AX-1, AX-2, AX-3 and AX-4 categories. The team carried out testing in Italy in January 2006 to get an idea of the performance that could be expected and all are confident that some World Records will be broken by the intrepid aviator.
World Record flights are governed by the FAI (Féderation Aéronautique Internationale) based in Lausanne, Switzerland. There are very strict rules governing World Record attempts and official observers are appointed to ensure that these rules are followed and that all relevant proof is gathered regarding the flights. The ratification of World Records can take up to 6 months following the flights.
Both the record-attempting balloon, and the escorting larger balloon, will be carrying GPS tracking devices such that the retrieve vehicle can be kept fully aware of where each balloon is using a moving-map display in the van. These GPS tracking devices were kindly supplied by KCS and details of the TraceME units can be found at www.traceme.tv . Our grateful thanks go to KCS for their assistance.
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 the harness you see above 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 36mins 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.
Pauline now holds the most female ballooning world records with a total of 8 records and a number of others planned once further sponsorship has been found. These records firmly place Ireland on the world aviation records map which will, hopefully, inspire others to follow in Pauline's footsteps.
The team would like to thank many people for their efforts, but in particular their sponsors for these records - Timmy and Ashley Donovan of Sean's Bar in Athlone, record holders themselves as the oldest pub in the UK and Ireland.