European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                French balloonist we Renard in Gondola tar Toft glances at his Bot or balloon which was scorched when he mod to innate it under Windy conditions Baboon test and by hinders Toft steady in inflated balloon to keep to from being dragged along the ground be fore Utt of. Stories by Joseph Owen Stuttgart bureaus he sagging. Hall inflated hoi air balloons bobbed about wildly on lha ragged cow pasture acting out what seemed to be warm up exercises Lor a giant Pillow fight wind whipped across a Swiss cheese sky. Promising Lotes he skills of even the most competent pills we would t Fly on a Day like this with Clear Sun said air Force capt. Terry Watson who has flown balloons Lor live years. There s Loo much  pills irom the other 14 countries represented Amhe fourth annual Challenge Piastre de Roziers Welz. France weren t As apprehensive As i to american however and balloons soon began leaping into the shy at right angles irom several launch Sites around the City. Perhaps they wanted a High score in the Competition or they were frustrated because storms had forced cancellation of most lights last Friday the previous Day. Some said pilots wanted to give sponsors their Money s Worth in lha Challenge which Olli cats said is now larger than any other balloon event except the Albuquerque International balloon festival in new Mexico. Whatever Tho motive hot air balloons sometimes called Mon golfers in Honor of the Brothers who invented them began skipping briskly Northwest across Iho Fields of the Lorraine Region about 7 30 saturday morning spectators lined the barbed wire Lence around one launch site the manure studded pasture three Miles South of Meti in the Village of Grimy. Officials shot flares into the sky to measure the height of the Cloud cover and then Iho event of the morning the appropriately named hesitation Waltz began. The wind heaved one balloon sideways so strongly that its Gondola Bumble through treetops at the end of the Field before gaining Altitude. Another Craft the Marquis de  swayed in the crosscurrents like a metronome Needle then bolted upward As though shot from a catapult. A French Pilot from reims. Yves Tanard turned his Burner on at the wrong moment during a launch attempt. He burned a Large Hole in his balloon s skirt Tho Collar around the Hole at the Bottom of the envelope. We could Fly provided no vital part is damaged Renard said of his balloon Spiro Bulle turning bulb. There Are no real problems. I had a Strong wind at the moment i wanted to take  the weather Toft the Challenge officials dispirited As Well. Organizing committee president Philippe Buron Pii atre said seven of the event s 11 scheduled flights were cancelled. In the town s place de la rep Ubaque 10 Gas balloons also called Chartiers were grounded All weekend. Only three of the 120 not air balloons failed to Fly. However. International fair Secretary Jean Marie conch on said fair officials answered queries about flights and weather constantly on two unlisted Telephone lines. For up to four Days they did t Stop calling from up to 500 kilo Elers 310 Miles  conch on said. We Are very disappointed because everything depends on the weather ballooning is a hurry up and Wai  said Watson noting the need for Good weather. Daniel Dupuis of alter. France won the Overall Competition. . Army maj. Larry Stewart and his wife Stephanie who won the Irish National championships in 1984 captured fifth place. Watson the Only other american participant took seventh. The stewarts were elated to have finished first in the Friday morning run a Conlest called Hare and hounds in which the hounds have Loerop a bag As close As possible to an a of fabric which Tho Sead balloon Iho Hare placed on the ground the stewarts met in Wiesbaden. A change of duly station seven years ago introduced the couple to ballooning. He was stationed in Albuquerque and i went there that s How we got into it said Stephanie who is from Ireland noting the sport s popularity in new Mexico we crewed in 1979 and bought our first balloon in 1980 " Stewart now serves Wilh the 53th Ord brigade he in Pir Masens. Germany and the couple has participated in Many european ballooning events Watson the commander of Del 4.7200 management engr so Pitburg As also Learned to Fly in me southwestern . When he was so aligned a Arizona five years ago. He has taken part ii. The Albuquerque festival and once hew with Ben a Cuizon one of three balloon its who made the first transatlantic balloon flight in 197b. Behind the balloons Hitomi  Buron Pitun. Buron Pii atre writes sports stories for the news service Agency Fiance Piesse and has covered Many aeronautical events from the ground. That Only whetted his appetite for getting into the air. He first ascended in a balloon when he was 22, at the invitation of his close Friend Hugues de Sade a relative of the famous Marquis de Sade. Now 32, Buron Piastre who has two balloons of his own has been a balloon Pilot for six Yeara. Do others in his family participate in the activity which made their ancestor famous1? my father my Mother my brother and company responded Buron Pilare. Smiling. Thai s my staff at the Challenge organizer a is banned irom Hying in the event. Nonetheless he said he intends to stay at the Helm in the future and compared the Prospect of giving up the project to a Mother giving up her child. Buron Pii Atie said the Challenge has expanded slightly Over the years. Most Aerial events Lake place in the Early morning and in the evening limes when the air is Cool enough for tha hot air balloons to function properly. In the initial years that left a mid Day Gap which discouraged promoters. So this year officials opened a Balto Onville a series of balloon related exhibits at the Metz International fair. I Don t like Money Hul i Don t like to lose it Buron Pilare said noting the importance of beefing up the schedule. To said he wants to establish a european ballooning Center in Metz and a Milf tire de Rozier foundation which would provide the Public with information on ballooning As a sport and its role in communication and transportation. I need another three years to succeed he said. Asked Why his current accomplishments Aren t enough to satisfy him. Buron Pitarre explained one never finishes the construction of a House. One can always add another  . The stars and stripes Paga 13