by Tom Hamilton
In a June press conference at
the Soukup & Thomas International Balloon & Airship Museum the Spirit
of Peace team threw their hat into the global balloon flight ring. The primary
sponsor is Reverend Martha S. Weeks of the United States Episcopal Church.
Based in the Diocese of Southeast Florida, her ministry and outreach includes
an area from the Philippines to Panama to Russia to Paris.
Balloon Life recently spoke with team leader Jacques Soukup at his Albuquerque command center by phone. Jacques reported that his team had secured all the critical overflight permissions. He said that all the equipment was ready, waiting for favorable weather. Something they have not had much of in Albuquerque lately. The crew has been using the time for additional training and familiarization with the equipment.
The launch site will be at the Anderson vineyards in the north valley, along the Rio Grande River. Lou Billones will be calling the weather for Spirit of Peace. Lou and his team had worked with Steve Fossett on his early global attempts.
The Spirit of Peace balloon is a combination gas and hot air balloon. The Roziere balloon is built by Cameron Balloons UK. It holds 550,000 cubic feet of helium gas and 24,000 cubic feet of hot air. When inflated it stands 19 stories tall.
The Spirit of Peace capsule is
constructed from Kevlar and carbon fiber and will have an internal pressure
equivalent to 12,000 feet of altitude. The plan is to fly the balloon in
the jet stream at 42,000 feet.
The outside air temperature at planned cruising altitude is expected to be minus 70 degrees. Meteorological challenges will include the avoidance of thunderstorms, hurricanes, and turbulence over the Himalayan mountains.
There is also the need for near calm surface winds at the time of launch, with the southern branch of the Polar Jet Stream simultaneously positioned overhead, oriented such that the balloon's track will take it rapidly into southern Europe or the Mediterranean.
This non-commercial adventure is made possible primarily by the donations of individuals and the involvement of non-profit organizations. As the mission glides around the world it will promote equality for all and a genuine concern for human welfare among a diversity of cultures, religions, and political systems. The flight also hopes to raise money for charities.
The team is headed by Jacques Soukup, a U.S. citizen who currently lives in Lacock, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Jacques has more than 2000 hours in hot air, gas, and Roziere balloons. He has set several world records in Rozieres.
Joining Soukup is Crispin Williams, former British champion and top ranked world balloon competitor, a resident of Langford, Somerset, UK and Mark Sullivan of Albuquerque.
Spirit of Peace Flight Director, Troy Bradley recently accompanied the pilots in a "Fast Cruise" simulation of an eight hour flight.
Troy, himself a trans-Atlantic balloon pilot and once co-holder of the absolute duration record in ballooning, will function as the team's Flight Director while the balloon is in the air. His duties will consist of coordinating with the weather team to balance weather needs with the balloon's capabilities (such as how high the balloon can go at a particular stage of the flight), coordinating with Dave Mitchell on overflight permissions as well as working with Capsule Managers Eric Cornellison and Ted Moore on the status of the various systems on board. He will also make the calculations of duration capabilities throughout the flight, including those for fuel supplies. In short, his job is to do as much of the worrying as possible, and to make recommendations to the pilots, in order to take unnecessary stress away from them so that they can make better flight decisions.
Troy went on board for a "Fast Cruise" in order to familiarize himself with the capsule's on board systems as they will be in flight. The "Fast Cruise" itself is held to re-test the life support systems, heaters and the communications systems. Should the weather continue to hold up launch, more "Fast Cruises" will surely be conducted.
