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THE GREAT NON-STOP AROUND THE WORLD BALLOON RACE
Chapter Three - May 25, 1998 The latest breaking news about the race entrants is that the name of the Dymocks Flyer has been changed to reflect a new Title Sponsor. It is now the Team RE/MAX balloon. Dymocks, the big Australian book store chain, remains aboard as a supporter and funding sponsor. The team of Bob Martin and John Wallington has added another pilot in the person of Dave Liniger, founder and Chairman of RE/MAX International, the World's largest real estate firm. He is a veteran pilot as well as an entrepreneur who has his hand in a myriad of businesses. The RE/MAX firm owns 90 hot air balloons making them the largest corporate balloon owner in the world and a natural Title Sponsor for this effort. They still plan a liftoff from Australia in December 1998. The Team RE/MAX balloon is a pure gas balloon, using only a very large volume of helium to provide lift. It has almost 4 times as much as the rest. Unlike the other contestants, their balloon controls altitude by the release of ballast (small steel balls) or gas only. It has no burners and flies in the Stratosphere, around 130,000 feet during the day dipping to about 90,000 feet at night. The Rozier hybrids using both gas and hot-air need controlled nighttime firings to climb or maintain their position after the sun goes down to expand their helium plus provide the additional lifting power of the hot air thus generated. Their website is worth exploring. It offers a fascinating complete short history of Ballooning, as well as good photographs throughout. Its sections on Science and Atmosphere are excellent. Just click on the address below and you're there. Steve Fossett, in the Solo Spirit, has flown farther than any other balloonist so far. He will be using a giant balloon similar to the Team RE/MAX this August when he lifts off from Mendoza in the Argentine Southern wine district. He plans a lower altitude flight and his balloon will also be equipped with 4 propane burners. Spent fuel tanks will serve as discardable ballast. Since it uses both gas and hot air for lift it will be classified as a Rozier type balloon. Following the balloonist's efforts on the Internet is an exciting ARMCHAIR ADVENTURE © which we will continue. You can join in the fun. The websites are all listed in the Index. |