13th Dachstein Alpen-Trophy

In Gosau, 2006 was the year of Pingu's big party: In 1996, we had presented our Penguin balloon to the public for the first time there, and so we celebrated this birthday together with the other model balloonists. Mummy Schlegel had especially baked a Penguin pie, which Matt had decorated just the evening before.

The Penguin celebrated its birthday with three wonderful flights over the snowy valley of Gosau: We had over three feet of snow this year, as much as never before on a balloon meeting. Thus, chasing the balloons was quite exhausting - we could choose either crossing the deep snow or walking a long way round on roads and ski courses.

The Knechtel Family with their mole "Mauli" were at Gosau for the first time, also the colourful balloon on the right in the picture, which was built by Volkmar Schneider.

Altogether, 14 model balloons were present - the Gosau meeting enjoys great popularity among the model balloonists. No wonder, with that beautiful weather we've got every year... :-)

And there is yet another thing that Gosau is famous for (apart from the sun and the blue sky): The introduction of new model balloons. Martin Kaiser presented his new envelope he had made especially for this meeting: Printed with photographs of prior Gosau meetings, this new balloon really is a true jewel (left)!

Luc De Wulf from Belgien also brought along a new model balloon envelope: The Cameron demonstrator you can see on the right in the picture.

After Heimo Taus, co-organizer of the meeting, had introduced the balloons, they took off for their maiden flight.

With Martin Kaiser's new "Gosau Balloon", we welcomed the participating balloonists of the 13th Dachstein Alpen-Trophy to the official opening dinner on Saturday.

You really do get a bit envious as a model balloonist when you see the big balloons rise in the morning and disappear over the high Dachstein mountains.

Bastian Schwarz, our friendly model balloonist from Landshut (near Munich), was also with us that weekend. Here you can see his balloon (on the right) going on a long distance flight together with Matt's "D-MINI".

After over one hour of flight down the Gosau valley, D-MINI touched down again in the emerging evening mist.

For the photographs, we say thanks to Martin Eutermoser, Karsten Knechtel, Bastian Schwarz, Luc De Wulf and Martin Kaiser.

And one thing's for sure: we'll be back in 2007! =)

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