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.

64th Gordon Bennett postponed

Due to the actual pandemic situation, it is difficult to foresee the duration of the actual restrictions. Taking into consideration all problems relating to ATC, teams' travel and access for the public, we have decided to postpone this year's 64th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett FAI World Long Distance Gas Balloon Championship until 2021 ....still in Poland!

After a lot of consultation with Wroclaw City, Aero Club of Poland and especially FAI (International airsports federation) and its Ballooning Commission, we have decided to postpone the event to late summer 2021. Switzerland, the organzier of the 65th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, has agreed to move their event to 2022. The new dates will be communicated before the end of September.

Next Event

Will happen in 2021, date to be published

Gordon Bennett 2019

RankPilotsCountryScore
1Laurent Sciboz
Nicolas Tièche
SUI1774.76 km
2Kurt Frieden
Pascal Witpraechtiger
SUI1749.57 km
3Vincent Leys
Christophe Houver
FRA1718.97 km
3Matthias Zenge
Benjamin Eimers
GER1718.97 km

Gordon Bennett 2018

RankPilotsCountryScore
1Mateusz Rekas
Jacek Bogdanski
POL1145.29 km
2Andy Cayton
Bill Smith
USA882.37 km
3Matthias Zenge
Benjamin Eimers
GER840.59 km