Thursday, July 30, 2009

Largest mass ascent-Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons rally sets world record   

 Chambley-Bussieres, France -- A total of 329 balloons lined up to take off at dusk at the Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons rally in eastern France-setting the world record for the largest mass ascent of hot air baloons .

( enlarge photo )

 A spokesman for the Lorraine Mondial Air Balloons described the mass ascent as: 'a magical moment, unique in the world,' and going by these shots, it is difficult to disagree.

     With about a thousand participating balloons, the Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons is the world's biggest hot-air balloon rally.

   The annual event featured a number of Brits who had made the short hop over the Channel to take part.

    According to the British Balloon and Airship Club, the event is the largest of its kind in Europe and thousands of balloonists and spectators descend - or perhaps ascend - from the French site.   

    The previous Guinness world record for the largest mass ascent took place on 15 August 1987, when 128 hot-air balloons took off in the course of one hour at the Ninth Bristol International Balloon Festival, at Ashton Court, Bristol, UK.
Related world records : 
Largest Origami Giraffe-world record set by Himanshu Agrawal

Largest jigsaw puzzle commercially available - world record set by
Educa

Tallest roller coaster model-world record set by Branden Moyer

Fastest time for solving the Rubik's Cube-world record set by Erik Akkersdijk

Longest Radio transmission-world record set by Dave Starkie

Giant Fluke caught by Monica Oswald set world record

Fastest puzzle completed by Elaine Lewis set world record

Most kite flying-world record set by Aussie scouts

Most surfers on a single wave -world record set in Brazil

Thursday, July 30, 2009