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06 July 2004

New German altitude record AA-3

My very well prepared flight begins rather stressfull because the helpers have some difficulties to reach the launching spot and because of the flight over the vast Haard.
Thanks to my helpers the preparing of the balloon progresses smoothly. And with 5 bags of sand (7,5 kg each) and an overfilled balloon I manage to mount very fast.

The valve reduces the ascent force of the balloon only slightly. The small balloon makes some unpleasant movements. The basket is very low, so these movements are visible to me. At an average speed of 3,4 m/sec I reach an altitude of 4153 m in 20 minutes. I don't want to stay long at this altitude because I want to clear air space as soon als possible and to land before sunset.

With a firm pull at the valve line I start my descent back to earth, at a speed of 2 m/sec. I have to pull several times to continue descending. Between 900 m en 150 m the direction turns back towards the Haard and the speed rises from 7 km/hr to 32 km/hr.

Repeatedly pulling the valve line I gain speed till 3,5m/sec and that's certainly not enough to land in front of the Haard. I reach the nature reserve when I'm still 70 m above the ground. One bag of sand stops the descent. The balloon stabilises and at a speed of 15 km/hr I drift some 300 or 400 m into the Haard. I put the balloon down only 1 m from the road that'll take us to hotel "Zum Jammertal" later.

Hurray, I managed to break another German record!

Herewith I also want to thank all the helpers, and the national observer Imke Landsmann.

Balloon: OO-BAZ
Flight number: 121
Date: March 31, 2004
Volume: 360 m3
Starting place: Oer-Erkenschwick, 19:04hr
Landing place: Datteln-Ahsen, 20:01hr
Record: German record AA-3
Altitude: 4.153m
Ballast at take-off: 5 bags
Used : 3 bags

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