Gas balloon introduction at Stuttgart

Somehow, the Stuttgart balloonists didn't seem to be quite lucky with the weather in spring 2004. After their gas balloon race in March had been cancelled due to weather circumstances, the introduction of their new club balloon almost couldn't take place for the same reason.

Only a few minutes before the introduction, the rain stopped.

A modern gas balloon is put up almost the same way as a hot air balloon - the envelope is laid out on the ground, attached to the basket and fixed to some sand bags. Then it is filled with hydrogen or helium.

When the balloon is one fourth full, the sand bags are detached and the balloon goes up, so that the valve at the top of the balloon can close due to the inner pressure. Then, filling continues until the balloon is tight.

While the filling of an old, net covered gas balloon took several hours, a modern gas balloon is ready to launch in less than an hour.

So, the new balloon was given its name 'D-OSTZ' by the mayor of Stuttgart, a representant of the sponsor and the president of the Balloon Club of Stuttgart, Albrecht Munz. And as the sponsor of the balloon is a famous Stuttgart brewery, what better to use than a huge mug of beer.
Later on, our penguin model balloon could also rise into the sky, to great joy of the countless kids from the Balloon Club of Stuttgart.