Birštonas will be colored by the jubilee Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship

"30 years marks a certain limit, and the round numbers always make me think a little and look back on some things retrospectively. There is always excitement before the anniversary. However, we have been organizing competitions in Birštonas for many years now, so we are ready to create a good event in every sense to satisfy both the participants and the spectators, ”said Žydrūnas Kazlauskas, one of the organizers of the championship, the head of the Audenis Airmen's Club.

Balloons are already inseparable from Birštonas for many people. The city itself is fascinating with its views, the Nemunas Loops Regional Park.

"In the aviation sense, it is convenient for balloons to fly here because there is uncontrolled airspace here, unlike in big cities. As a result, we have much more freedom to choose tasks. The race director has more opportunities to make more interesting decisions. It is no secret that athletes, even when competing, do not miss the opportunity to admire the surrounding images, which are really impressive from a height of half a km, ”explained Ž. Kazlauskas.

Rising high above Birštonas, you can see not only the Nemunas Loops Regional Park, but also Kaunas, Alytus or Elektrėnai. The images leave no one indifferent.

The biggest challenge in hosting a hot air balloon competition is mostly related to the weather. Ž. According to Kazlauskas, so far the weather forecasts are favorable and it is expected that most of the flights will be completed. Some rain is expected on the first day of the event - Thursday, but the flights will take place late in the evening, when the weather is usually already favorable.

The first competition flight is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, morning flights are scheduled at 5.30 a.m. and western flights at 7 p.m. The last flight is scheduled for 5.30pm on Sunday. The program of the event may change according to the weather conditions.

Last year's champion Laurynas Komža will not take part in the championship, but last year's winners Vytas Kerdokas and Tadas Gegevičius and other members of the Lithuanian national team will compete. Ž. Himself will start in Birštonas. Kazlauskas and several other members of Audenis.
"In aeronautics, the saying 'home walls help' is not very meaningful." Of course, when choosing take-off locations, this can lead to some sort of orientation and travel to a certain location as quickly as possible, but basically all pilots are very well-versed and logistics and navigation are not difficult for them. In this championship, as in others, mastery and experience will win, ”said Ž. Kazlauskas.

The Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship will take place during the Birštonas City Festival. The organizers promise to give spectators the opportunity to watch the flights comfortably and admire the balloons themselves.

"If possible, morning and western elevations are planned from the meadow field in front of Vytautas SPA. Some of the targets - crosses - should be in a large meadow near Birštonas ponds or on the city stage. Maybe in a school stadium. These are places that are open and visible to everyone, ”explained the head of Audenio.

Flight times and other news will be available on Audenio 's Facebook page. Results and balloon flights can be tracked on watchmefly.net.

Information from the Lithuanian Aircraft Federation.