A bright clear sky welcomed pilots and crews this morning on their way to the launchfield at Vessy. During the briefing at 10:00 local time the event director reported on the current and forecast meteo-situation.

The trajectories still do confirm a southerly heading. A high flight path at 4.000 m AMSL will take teams down into Korsika, Sardinia and even further. If decided to fly at medium altitude in the range of about 2500m AMSL, the heading might be Marseille down the Rhone-valley. The “Mistral” needs to be monitored closely. The lowest flying pattern will take teams into the south-westerly corner of France before they may decide to fly onto the Mediterranean Sea and later make landfall again in Spain. The race does promise some very interesting flights, where strategy will be a key-challenge next to the endurance needed by pilots flying high (using oxygen) and potentially over water.

The launch decison was made. It is a clear “go” for tonight’s launch. Pilots will be launched tonight at about 22:00 local time.

 Credits www.ballon.eu/2009_coupe_eboard.html