GORDON BENNETT 2018: CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN
The Gordon Bennett Race for gas balloons is the oldest air race in the world. Held since 1906, it was then founded by newspaper proprietor James Gordon Bennett Junior. The rules are simple: Participation is open to hydrogen balloons with a volume of up to 1050 cubic meters (36750 cu ft), each country can send up to three teams. The team who travels the farthest distance from launch to landing in a nonstop balloon flight wins the trophy.
With a 37 hour duration flight and a 1175 kilometer distance flight from Stuttgart to Lithuania, Benedict Munz and Matthias Schlegel have qualified as team Germany-3 for the 2018 Gordon Bennett Race in Bern, Switzerland.
A participation in the world’s most prestigious air race is an expensive endeavour. In addition to elaborate equipment, the traveling costs for an almost unplannable journey depending to wind and weather have to be covered. And that journey might very well lead through half of Europe!
As one of the youngest teams participating, we are dependent on sponsors and supporters. The German Ballooning Federation DFSV e.V. supports us generously; the Ballonsportgruppe Stuttgart e.V. provides balloon, retrieve vehicle including fuel and additional equipment.
Despite all this great support, we will still have to cover a major part of the traveling costs by ourselves. So, a pilot friend of ours had the idea to set up a crowdfunding campaign to give our fans and friends a possibility to support us. Thank you Georg Reifferscheid for your engagement and contribution!
The Gordon Bennett Race 2018 is set to launch on September 27th in Bern, Switzerland. More information concerning the event can be found on www.gordonbennett.aero.
Hint: Independently from our appeal for support, the Ballonsportgruppe Stuttgart e.V. is – as a non-profit association – always eligible to receive charitable contribution and issue appropriate donation receipts. These donations will be used 100% to support ballooning and by that will automatically help the Gordon Bennett teams of the club.
In case we have money left over after the race, this will go to the youth of the Ballonsportgruppe Stuttgart e.V..
We are grateful for your support!
