People

The University of Manchester’s Dr Ann Webb had been hoping to take the title in the annual Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, but after journeying to Belgium to take part, a last minute combination of unfavourable weather conditions and issues with the use of airspace around Brussels combined to force the organisers to cancel the contest.

Wrapped up and ready to fly

Undeterred, she and team-mate Dr Janet Folkes packed up their balloon and headed for Germany to take part in the Stuttgart Cup in Germany.

After taking off on Wednesday 19 September with seven other teams, they flew overnight across Germany in the company of Belgium balloonist and Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett organiser Moniek Van de Velde, who also happens to be an official observer for record attempts.

Over the course of their 19 hour flight, the pair reached altitudes of over 8,000 feet, hit a top speed of 28km per hour and faced sub-zero temperatures before they landed near Linz in Austria – a huge 395km from their starting point.

Checking the route

Impressive as their journey was, Ann is just happy that they took to the air at all, though the change of plan meant they had a few hours of very hard work.

"We were gutted that the Gordon Bennett event didn’t take place – or perhaps I should say deflated. We were ready to go and in good shape.

"The final decision came from the Brussels controller that the competition could not pass through the airspace immediately after take off.

"Although it wasn’t the Gordon Bennett challenge, the flight from Stuttgart was a great experience and has given me the appetite to try again next year."

The pair are now waiting to see if the flight qualifies for a new British women’s record for distance and duration in a gas balloon.