The Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup is a new, international sporting competition in aerostatics, promoted and organized by Difesa Servizi in collaboration with the Aeronautica Militare, Aero Club di Pavullo, and with technical support from Aeronord Aerostati. The event promotes institutional, environmental, social, and sporting values through balloon flights.
The first edition will take place in Piacenza in 2024, specifically from October 11 to 13, featuring a series of events and competitions dedicated to balloon flights.
Two types of balloons will participate: gas balloons and hot air balloons. There will be separate competitions for each type, reflecting their different flight characteristics, as well as a joint award for the twinned teams, combining the points earned by both balloon types.
Hot air balloons will be judged on precision, while gas balloons will compete in a distance race. The results will be determined using digital loggers and physical trackers, which will record the performance of the balloons.
Yes, the event will be open to the public. A village with various activities, stands, and opportunities for interaction with the participants will be set up, providing an engaging experience for all
Yes, there will be educational workshops related to balloons for children. There will also be tethered balloon flights where children aged 5 and up, as well as adults, can experience take-off, landing, and floating in the air.
The first edition will take place at the Piacenza airbase. In the coming years, the event will be hosted in various Italian locations, covering many areas across the country.
For updated information, you can visit the website and social media channels dedicated to the Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup. These will be updated with details about the program, sponsors, and all the latest news leading up to the event.
The Balloon Cup is an opportunity to showcase the values, traditions, and capabilities of the Aeronautica Militare. It promotes Italy’s cultural and natural heritage and supports the sustainable development of the areas involved, while respecting key institutional and social values.
The communication strategy for the Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup will be coordinated to ensure consistency with the event’s core values. There will be collaborations with major media partners and institutions to maximize public visibility and engagement.
Both are types of balloons, and both operate on the principle of lift, where a gas lighter than air rises.
In gas balloons, the envelope is completely spherical and sealed, containing a mixture of gases lighter than air (usually helium) to provide lift.
In hot air balloons, on the other hand, the envelope is “bulb-shaped,” and lift is generated by heating the air inside using burners. The combination of hot air and propane gas combustion provides the necessary force to lift off from the ground.
On December 2nd, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor by Pope Pius VII in Paris. At the coronation, in front of Notre Dame, a balloon called the Ballon du Sacre (Consecration Balloon) was launched. A few days later, strong winds broke its moorings, and the balloon drifted to Lake Bracciano, where it eventually landed.
Today, this balloon is considered the oldest surviving aeronautical relic and the only remaining example of early balloons. It is displayed at the Aeronautica Militare Historical Museum (MUSAM) in Vigna di Valle, Bracciano, having been donated by Pope Paul VI. The remains of the balloon were originally given to the Pope and kept in the Vatican’s Floreria Apostolica until May 24, 1977, when the museum was inaugurated.
The Aeronautica Militare also has a long history of using airships in Vigna di Valle, the site of the aeronautical historical museum. On October 3rd, 1908, the first Italian military airship undertook a short exploratory flight.