AURORA CHALLENGE

The first DUBAI International Ballooning Festival was held last year from December 20 – 31. Dennis and Margaret Collins who regularly crew with my balloon in Canberra and supported my world record attempt, and I departed Sydney December 18. My balloon, Aurora (VH-BJF) left a day earlier.

All 75 balloon teams were accommodated at the Al Bustan Residences not far from the international airport in Dubai. As these were apartments, the local law allows no alcohol for sale on the premises. We had been warned beforehand so it was not unusual to observe the foreigners checking in at reception with duty free bags laden with their preferred choice of drink.

Dec 20 Day 1 – All aboard the buses that were to become such a regular part of our stay and finally, a glimpse of my balloon at the launch site, Global Village, about 30 minutes drive south of the city.

1600 hrs – After the master briefing, pilots began inflating their balloons in front of a huge white marquee perched in the desert. Inside sitting on red and gold ornate chairs on colourful rugs were Sheikh Majjid Bin Mohammed Bin Makhtoum, his bodyguards and entourage watching the colourful spectacle.

As the only Australian team there, we also participated in the night glow the first night beside Dubai Creek where an amphitheatre had been specially built to house the families for their first look at such a sight.

Next day dawned gently and after our 0600 hrs briefing, all balloons lifted off and drifted away from Dubai Airport, a restricted zone to the east. My goal was to land as close as possible to the other balloon sharing our assigned chase truck and for both of us to finish our flights next to a road. Tahir, our Pakistani truck driver had made it clear he would not, could not, take his truck off-road.

“Will we fly from the Palm?” one of the pilots asked Pat Brake, Deputy Flight Director, mid-week. “Don’t have permission yet”, she replied. We continued to fly from Global Village over the next few days.

Day 8 1430 hrs Onto the buses outside our apartments. “Where are we going?” yelled one of the Brits to the driver.

“To the Burj Al Arab” was all he said.

We spilled out of the buses after a journey through “downtown” Dubai to end up on Jumeirah Beach Road in front of the famous 7-star hotel, shaped like a sail, rising out of the beach, surrounded by the most azure coloured ocean. The flag on top of the building was waving strongly indicating strong winds but everyone was keen to fly.

Mark Sullivan Flight Director from Albuquerque called the briefing with the direction that our height restriction was 500 feet AMSL until we reached our regular approved flying area to the southeast and then only to 1500 feet AMSL.

This was an historic flight for Dubai and offered wonderful ballooning memories and images for those intrepid pilots floating over the city and the folk below.
The Emirates Mall is famous for housing an indoor ski run of 600 to 800 meters, where many of the teams spent two hours snow ski-ing on Christmas Day. I was now flying over the ski roof with only 30 feet of clean air below my basket and the ski-run ceiling.

After the flight we prepared for DINNER IN THE DESERT.

Over the sand dunes into the night blackness we drove and drove till a light appeared in the distance. We finally entered a compound with low tables and cushions on the sand, a stage situated in the middle. in the far corner was the bar. The food was delicious or maybe it was eating under the stars that was seductive. The belly dancer at mid-night excited the guys, well some of them, as two bus loads had already left. We arrived back at our apartment at 0100 hrs – what a day! One could say what an fortnight! What an adventure all up!

The next event is scheduled for early 2008.

The first DUBAI International Ballooning Festival was held last year from December 20 – 31. Dennis and Margaret Collins who regularly crew with my balloon in Canberra and supported my world record attempt, and I departed Sydney December 18. My balloon, Aurora (VH-BJF) left a day earlier.

All 75 balloon teams were accommodated at the Al Bustan Residences not far from the international airport in Dubai. As these were apartments, the local law allows no alcohol for sale on the premises. We had been warned beforehand so it was not unusual to observe the foreigners checking in at reception with duty free bags laden with their preferred choice of drink.

Dec 20 Day 1 – All aboard the buses that were to become such a regular part of our stay and finally, a glimpse of my balloon at the launch site, Global Village, about 30 minutes drive south of the city.

1600 hrs – After the master briefing, pilots began inflating their balloons in front of a huge white marquee perched in the desert. Inside sitting on red and gold ornate chairs on colourful rugs were Sheikh Majjid Bin Mohammed Bin Makhtoum, his bodyguards and entourage watching the colourful spectacle.

As the only Australian team there, we also participated in the night glow the first night beside Dubai Creek where an amphitheatre had been specially built to house the families for their first look at such a sight.

Next day dawned gently and after our 0600 hrs briefing, all balloons lifted off and drifted away from Dubai Airport, a restricted zone to the east. My goal was to land as close as possible to the other balloon sharing our assigned chase truck and for both of us to finish our flights next to a road. Tahir, our Pakistani truck driver had made it clear he would not, could not, take his truck off-road.

“Will we fly from the Palm?” one of the pilots asked Pat Brake, Deputy Flight Director, mid-week. “Don’t have permission yet”, she replied. We continued to fly from Global Village over the next few days.

Day 8 1430 hrs Onto the buses outside our apartments. “Where are we going?” yelled one of the Brits to the driver.

“To the Burj Al Arab” was all he said.

We spilled out of the buses after a journey through “downtown” Dubai to end up on Jumeirah Beach Road in front of the famous 7-star hotel, shaped like a sail, rising out of the beach, surrounded by the most azure coloured ocean. The flag on top of the building was waving strongly indicating strong winds but everyone was keen to fly.

Mark Sullivan Flight Director from Albuquerque called the briefing with the direction that our height restriction was 500 feet AMSL until we reached our regular approved flying area to the southeast and then only to 1500 feet AMSL.

This was an historic flight for Dubai and offered wonderful ballooning memories and images for those intrepid pilots floating over the city and the folk below.
The Emirates Mall is famous for housing an indoor ski run of 600 to 800 meters, where many of the teams spent two hours snow ski-ing on Christmas Day. I was now flying over the ski roof with only 30 feet of clean air below my basket and the ski-run ceiling.

After the flight we prepared for DINNER IN THE DESERT.

Over the sand dunes into the night blackness we drove and drove till a light appeared in the distance. We finally entered a compound with low tables and cushions on the sand, a stage situated in the middle. in the far corner was the bar. The food was delicious or maybe it was eating under the stars that was seductive. The belly dancer at mid-night excited the guys, well some of them, as two bus loads had already left. We arrived back at our apartment at 0100 hrs – what a day! One could say what an fortnight! What an adventure all up!

The next event is scheduled for early 2008.

Thank you for your continued emails. I do appreciate the interest my flight and the AURORA Challenge attracted.

I am looking for personal direction at present - some of my ideas cover:

Becoming a spokesperson for depression, particularly male depression...
Raising the awareness of the various groups and dedicated people working in this field...and the services they offer...
Fronting an advertising campaign for products and/or services aimed at:-
women,
the Over 55's or the Seniors market...
Developing my guest speaking commitments further.

Plans for further record attempts will be finalised for both autumn and spring 2007.

More later,
Ruth

Over 500 images have been taken of the planning, preparation, met briefing, inflation and launch of the Aurora World Hot Air Balloon Feminine Distance Record attempt.

Dominic has downloaded a few photos and as webmaster is planning a few changes to the site in the future.

The team photo at the bottom of the group consists of:
L to R
Susan Merrill, Rod & Marilyn Knight, Dennis & Margaret Collins, Mick & Margaret Toller with Ruth in the front row.

We have nearly 3 hours of video now archived to be used as part of any future ballooning adventure stories being filmed.

More images later....

In the aftermath of this experience, I am recalling the words my younger son Grant said to me before I launched - "It's good to have an end to journey towards Ma, but it's the journey that's important in the end".

I am going to retreat, rest and restore my energy over the coming week.

Thank you again to the many, many lovely people who have sent emails and left phone messages. It's all just overwhelming for me at the moment.

xRuth