The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

Second Balloon Meeting Over the Castle of Masino

On November 15 and 16, 2008, the second “International Balloon Meeting" brought spectacular colour and form to the clear skies over the Castle of Masino, not far from Turin, Italy. During the two day event, organized by the Aosta-based Team Charbonnier Mongolfiere, 14 medium-sized balloons from various nations took off from the grounds of the Castle.

Favoured by consistently good weather, thousands of people gathered for the Meeting, with hundreds enjoying the emotion of a silent ascent over the suggestive agricultural landscape of the Canavese area, encircled by the imposing arch of the snowy Alps. Monte Rosa towering to the North offered an unforgettable background to the many small lakes and the long line of the morainic barrier – “la Serra” - pointing like an arrow to the mouth of the Aosta Valley.

On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16, 2008, after a collective test flight, four “soft” "foxhound" races took place. The pilots had only one objective - to launch the marker within 50 metres of the landing point of the “fox” balloon, piloted by Diego Charbonnier. At the end of the series, foreign pilots were the best performers. First Albert Filotti (France), second Miguel Tuffreau (France) and third Didie Dumée (Switzerland).

Of the many stands set up around the take-off field, one colourful marquee was promoting the French community of Brissac-Quincé (www.ot-brissac-loire-aubance.fr), to the South of Angiers, in the Aubance region, along the river Loire. Brissac-Quincè is twinned with Caluso, a Canavesian town not far from Masino. But this is not the only coincidence - the French town is an important ballooning centre, seat of Montgolfières d’Anjou. It frequently hosts important events including, in 2003, the French Balloon Championship. In 2009, Brissac-Quincè will host the European Balloon Championship. In a curious coincidence, during the dynastic wars which plagued Europe during the XVIth century, an invading French army headed by Charles Cossé – Count of Brissac – besieged and destroyed the Castle of Masino in 1554/1555. Recently this Castle, an historic building now owned by the FAI – the Italian Environment Foundation - has been completely restored in its XIXth century form. Brissac, of course - has its own historic castle, one of the spectacular “Loire Castles” which attract visitors from all over the world.

The International Balloon Meeting "Castello di Masino” has confirmed itself as one of the emerging balloon events in the Italian ballooning calendar.

In the picture: Thunder-Colt AX7-77 I-CHAR, piloted by Nello Charbonnier, takes off during the 2nd International Balloon Meeting "Castello di Masino", Italy, in November 2008. The balloon was equipped with a rudimentary but effective remote-release camera to take photos of passengers during their flights. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, November 2008)