Richard Abruzzo (USA)
N-96-YD
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Richard Abruzzo’s Ballooning Activities
1992 First flight from North America to Africa, Absolute Duration Record for Balloons (previously held by Double Eagle II and Richard’s father Ben Abruzzo), Longest Distance Award in the Chrysler Transatlantic Balloon Race, 24 World Records for Distance, Duration and Altitude for Roziere Balloons, Richard and Troy Bradley were awarded the De La Vaulx Medal and the Shields Trauger Award for this longest ever balloon flight.
Won a new car in the Key Grab at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
1994 1st Place, National Gas Balloon Championship, St. Louis, Missouri
3rd Place, U.S. Gordon Bennett Qualifier, Greeley, Colorado
1995 1st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1996 2nd Place, National Gas Balloon Race, St. Louis, Missouri
Won a new car in the Key Grab at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
1997 1st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1998 3rd Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1999 1st Place, RE/MAX Cup National Gas Balloon Race, Denver, Colorado
Recipient of the Montgolfier Diploma, the highest award in ballooning
2000 2nd Place, Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, Saint Hubert, Belgium
2nd Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2001 2nd Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Solo Flight from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Crawfordville, Georgia, World Duration Record for AA-6 (previously held by Ben Abruzzo), 80 hours, 18 Minutes, Recipient of the Harmon Aeronaut Trophy
2002 1st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
Landed on the Delaware coast with New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson
2003 First Solo Transcontinental Balloon Flight, San Diego, California to the Georgia Coast, World Distance Record (AA-6/AA-7), Recipient of the Harmon Aeronaut Trophy
2nd Place, Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, Arc et Senans, France
1st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2004 1st Place, Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, Thionville, France
1st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2005 By winning the Gordon Bennett in France, Richard and Carol Rymer Davis have brought the next edition of the oldest aviation contest in the world home to the United States. Started in 1906, the Gordon Bennett is the most prestigious event in ballooning and will bring the top pilots in the world to Albuquerque this fall.
This recap was limited to top three finishes, world record flights and other
noteworthy performances. In the nine America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Races held, Richard has finished on the podium eight times, winning five.