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    1^st Place, National Gas Balloon Championship, St. Louis, Missouri

            3^rd Place, U.S. Gordon Bennett Qualifier, Greeley, Colorado

1995    1^st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1996    2^nd Place, National Gas Balloon Race, St. Louis, Missouri

            Won a new car in the Key Grab at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

1997    1^st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico  

1998    3^rd Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico  

1999    1^st Place, RE/MAX Cup National Gas Balloon Race, Denver, Colorado

            Recipient of the Montgolfier Diploma, the highest award in ballooning

2000    2^nd Place, Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, Saint Hubert, Belgium

            2^nd Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico

2001    2^nd 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    1^st 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

            2^nd Place, Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, Arc et Senans, France

            1^st Place, America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, Albuquerque, New Mexico

2004    1^st Place, Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, Thionville, France

            1^st 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.