The year 1976 marked a
milestone in aviation history as pilots gathered in Augsburg, Germany, for the 1st
World Gas Balloon Championship. These rare "Balloon Mail" covers
offer a tactile connection to that inaugural event, which officially took place
from September 11 to 14, 1976. Captured during a time when the sky was filled
with the silent silhouettes of gas-filled giants, these documents served as
official proof of flight. They were carried in the wicker baskets of the
balloons and stamped with unique "Bordstempels" to verify their
journey through the clouds.
The first card is a
remarkable "who’s who" of 1970s aeronautics, featuring a dense
tapestry of hand-signed autographs from international teams representing
countries like Japan, Poland, and the USA—including the signature of American
pilot Michael Fairbanks. It tells a story of precision and patience; a red ink
notification notes that the initial launch on September 10, 1976, was delayed
due to "unfavorable weather," a common challenge in the delicate
world of gas ballooning.
Perhaps most striking is the second document, which features an aerial photograph of the balloons lined up like pearls on the Augsburg launch field. This card was notably piloted and signed by Wolfgang von Zeppelin, a name synonymous with the golden age of airships, alongside Annedore von Zeppelin.
