Maiden flight for three teenagers aboard meeco’s hot air balloon
Zug/Oerlinghausen. For the fourth time in a row, the Aeroclub NRW, based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) State, has organized a youth camp, this time in Oerlinghausen to give 140 teenagers the chance to discover and practice aerial sports. The event took place from September 21st to 22nd, and The meeco Group, which was represented by its Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and pilot, Thomas Beindorf, was among the event partners. Three youngsters had the opportunity to fly aboard the meeco hot air balloon under the command of meeco’s CTO.
During two days, teens from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia could learn the theory about flying physics and then experience it through practice. Some flew aboard a sailplane or an engine powered plane, others flew model aircrafts.
Each participant at the camp could learn what ballooning is about during a two-hour exhibition, from preparation of flight in terms of weather conditions to load protocols and route planning. The balloon itself and all the equipment was shown and explained to participants and public visitors of the airfield.
Three teenagers were in charge of the pre-flight preparations of The meeco Group’s hot air balloon: under optimal weather conditions they chose and prepared the take-off point and eventually blew the balloon. They then embarked on a one-hour twenty-minute flight aboard the balloon under the supervision of meeco pilot Thomas Beindorf. .
Airlebnis, which is organized every year, aims not only at handing down the passion of aerial sports from accomplished sportsmen to youngsters but also at raising their awareness regarding our world’s issues and challenges. “We are happy to pass on our love and experience of flying to teenagers,” explains Thomas Beindorf. “This youth camp also enabled us to make them aware about the beauty of this sport, the wonderful nature we are living in and that we have to protect our environment, such as using renewable energies like PV. The balloon – a balcony in the sky – gives you time and silence to consider this in a breathtaking combination.
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