22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship

FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship is the competition by the representative balloonists from member nations belonging to Federation Aeronwutique Internationale (FAI). Since the 1st championship in 1973, it has been held once every year, and its host site is chosen by the election in the Plenary Meeting of Committee International Aerostatic (CIA).
22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in 2016 was decided by the election at the plenary meeting in Lausanne Switzerland, March 2014, and Saga was chosen keeping Albuquerque, USA, in check.
Holding FAI Hot Air Balloon Championship in Saga is the third time, the first time was the 9th championship in 1989, and next was the 13th in 1997.
[Reference]Official Site of FAI
Outline of 22nd World Hot Air Balloon Championship
- 2016 Outline
Event Name
22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship / 2016 Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix -Final Round-
Event Location
Kase Riverside, Saga City
Event Dates
October 28th (Fri.) to November 6th (Sun.), 2016 * 2016 Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix : Oct.28 (Fri) ~ 30(Sun)
Hosting Organizations
2016 Saga World Hot Air Balloon Championship Organizing Committee
(Japan Aeronautic Association, Japan Balloon Federation, Saga Prefecture, Saga City, Saga International Balloon Fiesta Organization, and others)
Main Manager
2016 Saga World Hot Air Balloon Championship Executive Committee
Sanctioning Organizations
22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship / The World Air Sports Federation (FAI), The International Ballooning Commission (CIA)
2016 Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix -Final Round- / AirB
*2016Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix was sanctioned by Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix Management Organization(Air-B)
Numbers of participating teams
100 representative pilots from FAI member nations, and include
・the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in 21st FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship
・the champion of 2nd Junior World Hot Air Balloon Championship
・the champion of 1st FAI Women's World Hot Air Balloon Championship
Total 105 pilots(ballons)
*There were 186 balloons all together including Hot Air Blloon Honda Grand Prix, Fiesta, Fantasia, and official balloons.
Past host sites and the champions
Time | Year | Location | Ballons | Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1973 | Albuquerque, USA | 14 ctys./32 ballons | ![]() |
2nd | 1975 | Albuquerque, USA | 15 ctys./34 ballons | ![]() |
3rd | 1977 | York, England | 22 ctys./51 ballons -Japan's first participation- | ![]() |
4th | 1979 | Uppsala, Sweden | 16 ctys./33 ballons | ![]() |
5th | 1981 | Battle Creek, USA | 21 ctys./82 ballons | ![]() |
6th | 1983 | Nantes, France | 20 ctys./70 ballons | ![]() |
7th | 1985 | Battle Creek, USA | 23 ctys./98 ballons | ![]() |
8th | 1987 | Schielleiten, Austria | 23 ctys./98 ballons | ![]() |
9th | 1989 | Saga, Japan | 25 ctys./102 ballons | ![]() |
10th | 1991 | St.Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada | 26 ctys./101 ballons | ![]() |
11th | 1993 | La Rochette, Luxembourg | 32 ctys./101 ballons | ![]() |
12th | 1995 | Battle Creek, USA | 33 ctys./86 ballons | ![]() |
13th | 1997 | Saga, Japan | 38 ctys./112 ballons | ![]() |
14th | 1999 | Bad Waltersdorf, Austria | 32 ctys./90 ballons | ![]() |
15th | 2002 | Châtellerault, France | 36 ctys./99 ballons | ![]() |
16th | 2004 | Mildura, Australia | 30 ctys./87 ballons | ![]() |
17th | 2006 | Motegi, Japan | 36 ctys./66 ballons | ![]() |
18th | 2008 | Hofkirchen, Austria | 36 ctys./98 ballons | ![]() |
19th | 2010 | Debrecen, Hungary | 34 ctys./129 ballons | ![]() |
20th | 2012 | Battle Creek, USA | 29 ctys./103 ballons | ![]() |
21st | 2014 | Rio Claro, Brasil | 22 ctys./58 ballons | ![]() |
22nd | 2016 | Saga, Japan | 31 ctys./105 ballons | ![]() |
23rd | 2018 | Groß-Siegharts, Austria | 34 ctys./105 ballons | ![]() |
24th | 2022 | Murska Sobota, Slovenia | ctys./ ballons |
*World Air Games, called as Olympic of sky sports, has been held once every 4 years since 1997, so that the World Hot Air Championship has delayed by one year at the 15th championship in 2002, and it has been held in the even-numbered year not to be held with the same year of World Air Games.
Japanese site
Last Modified: 2018.10.23

