At last the big moment had come! D-OOWS was going to partake in the NRW-Cup in Düsseldorf and that was the perfect occasion to baptise the balloon.
In 1994 (!) it was manufactured in the Ballonbau Wörner factory, with Warsteiner publicity. Yet no one ever wanted to make the 640m3 balloon airworthy: too expensive, too small, insurance problems...
Ten years later 10 members of the 'Startplatsgemeinschaft Gladbeck' decided to lay their heads together to get the balloon in the air. They bought a basket and all the necessary accessories, the balloon was made airworthy and passed through the inspection, the insurance premium was paid, etc.
Since then D-OOWS has already made several flights, but it appeared to be very difficult to gather the 10 pilots for the baptism ... until last weekend. Their balloon has received the name Gladbeck, which obviously refers to 'Startplatzgemeinschaft Gladbeck'.
We'd like to wish the balloon and all of its pilots many beautiful flights and good landings!
