The Gordon BENNETT Cup is the oldest and most prestigious
aviation competition in the world
The first launch took place in 1906 and was held in front of 200 000 spectators in Paris.
It is tradition that the winning country has the privilege of organizing the next edition of the competition.
The last Gordon Bennett Cup in Poland took place in 1936. Since then, Poland won twice – first in 1938, however the competition was cancelled due to World War II outbreak, and for the second time in 1983, when the competition was organised for the very first time after the WWII. Unfortunately, because of the political situation in the country the next edition in 1984 could not have been held in Poland and was organised in Switzerland instead.
The Gordon BENNETT Cup is the oldest and most prestigious
aviation competition in the world
The first launch took place in 1906 and was held in front of 200 000 spectators in Paris.
It is tradition that the winning country has the privilege of organizing the next edition of the competition.
The last Gordon Bennett Cup in Poland took place in 1936. Since then, Poland won twice – first in 1938, however the competition was cancelled due to World War II outbreak, and for the second time in 1983, when the competition was organised for the very first time after the WWII. Unfortunately, because of the political situation in the country the next edition in 1984 could not have been held in Poland and was organised in Switzerland instead.
It took Poland 35 years to win the Gordon Bennet Cup again - in 2018 the Polish National Team won the 62nd Gordon Bennett Cup and thanks to this, the event is back to Poland after 84 years.
From the beggining in 1906 the rules have been the same and simple in theory: the best gas balloonists launch from the same place, at a similar time and with the same amount of gas. All of them try to achieve the longest possible distance from launch to landing. Teams consisting of two people spend together 2 to 3 days in the same small basket overcoming distances of several hundred kilometers. Nowadays, this sport combines tradition with modern technology and the viewers from all over the world can admire the competition and struggle of the teams live online.
Programme
64 Gordon Bennett Cup - World Championships in long-distance gas
balloon flights
Date
Description
19.08
Opening Ceremony
20.08
Event on Partynice and I slot for balloons launch
21.08
Event on Partynice and II slot for balloons launch
22.08
Event on Partynice and III slot for balloons launch
27.08 or 28.08
Closing Ceremony and prize giving
Destination
When the pilots first competed in 1906 in the very first Gordon Bennett Cup, the Partynice Horse Racing Track was under construction. The track was opened in 1907, and this year over 650,000 m2 of this wonderful facility will be available to participants and spectators of the 64th Gordon Bennett Cup.
