Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett
The Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, the FAI World Long Distance Gas Balloon Championship, is the oldest and most prestigious event in aviation and the ultimate challenge for the pilots. It is a story full of adventure, skill, courage, survival and luck. The goal is simple: to fly the furthest non-stop distance from the launch site.
The international competition was initiated by adventurer and newspaper tycoon James Gordon Bennett Jr. in 1906, when 16 balloons launched from the Tuileries Gardens in Paris, France. Little did the crowd of 200,000 spectators know that this race was to continue throughout the 20th century. The winning team brings the competition to their country.
Gordon Bennett 2025
Rank | Pilots | Country | Score |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kurt Frieden Pascal Witpraechtiger | ![]() | 1358.29 km |
2 | Benedict Munz Matthias Schlegel | ![]() | 1259.02 km |
3 | Eric Decellieres Benoit Havret | ![]() | 1257.62 km |
Gordon Bennett 2024
Rank | Pilots | Country | Score |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Christian Wagner Stefanie Liller | ![]() | 2111.17 km |
2 | Kurt Frieden Pascal Witpraechtiger | ![]() | 2109.75 km |
3 | Andreas Zumrode Axel Hunnekuhl | ![]() | 2108.47 km |
68th Gordon Bennett
The take-off from Metz, France is planed for September 5, 2025.
Gordon Bennett 2023
Rank | Pilots | Country | Score |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Eric Decellieres Benoit Havret | ![]() | 2661.40 km |
2 | Wilhelm Eimers Benjamin Eimers | ![]() | 2587.21 km |
3 | Benoit Pelard Benoît Péterlé | ![]() | 2359.95 km |
✨ It's a wrap! ✨
The Gordon Bennett 2025 came to a close last night with the prize-giving ceremony in the beautiful salons of Metz City Hall.
A huge thank you to the 24 teams: pilots, crew, and command centers, for giving us such a thrilling race and keeping us on the ...edge of our seats!
Gratitude also goes to the officials, the organizing committee, the volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes, and of course our sponsors, without whom none of this would have been possible.
What an adventure... until next time! 🎈
✨ C’est dans la boîte ! ✨
La Gordon Bennett 2025 s’est clôturée hier soir avec la remise des prix dans les magnifiques salons de l’Hôtel de Ville de Metz.
Un immense merci aux 24 équipages : pilotes, équipes techniques et PC course, de nous avoir fait vibrer et de nous avoir tenus en haleine tout au long de cette course !
Merci également aux officiels, au comité d’organisation, aux bénévoles qui œuvrent souvent dans l’ombre, et bien sûr à nos sponsors, sans qui cet événement n’aurait pas pu exister.
Quelle aventure… à la prochaine ! 🎈
#GB25 #gasballooning #gordonbennett #faiballooning
The Highlight Show - 68th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2025
The Highlight Show - 68th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2025
✨ At the #GordonBennett race, the gas balloons lifted off from Metz, France, and after 67h 34m in the air, 🥇🏆 Team SUI-1 (Kurt Frieden & Pascal Witprächtiger) soared 1,358 km non-stop all the way to Gogosu, Romania!
An incredible flight and their 5th championship victory!
...#GB2025 #FAIBallooning
✨ At the #GordonBennett race, the gas balloons lifted off from Metz, France, and after 67h 34m in the air, 🥇🏆 Team SUI-1 (Kurt Frieden & Pascal Witprächtiger) soared 1,358 km non-stop all the way to Gogosu, Romania!
An incredible flight and their 5th championship victory!
...#GB2025 #FAIBallooning
Gordon Bennett Gasballonteam Frieden / Witprächtiger
Track Animation - 68th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2025
Fair play, respect, and celebration ahead! 🎈
USA-2 can’t wait to honor SUI-1 at the Awards Ceremony. 🏆🥇🥈🥉🏅
Fair play, respect et bientôt la célébration ! 🎈
USA-2 a hâte d’honorer SUI-1 lors de la cérémonie des Awards. 🏆🥇🥈🥉🏅