| CIA NOTABLE FLIGHTS | Part I, Champions, winners and badges |
| 1901-10-19 | Winner of the Deutsch Prize. |
| | Pilot: | Alberto Santos-Dumont | Copilot: |
| | First flight from the Aeroclub round the Eiffel tower and back. |
| | Prize set up by Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe |
| 1906-10-01 | 1st Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Frank P. Lahm | Copilot: | Henry B. Hersey |
| | Paris (Jardin des Tuileries). France. to Fylingdales. Yorkshire. UK |
| | Long distance race. the oldest aviation race still flown. 15 balloons. 1 airship |
| 1907-10-23 | 2nd Gordon Bennett race 1907. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Oscar Erbslöh | Copilot: | Henry Helm Clayton (USA) |
| | St. Louis (Forest Park). Missuori. to Bradley Beach. New Jersey. USA |
| |
| 1908-10-14 | 3rd Gordon Bennett race 1908. 1st place. North Sea crossing |
| | Pilot: | Theodor Schaeck | Copilot: | Emil Messner |
| | Berlin (Schmargendorf). Germany to S/S CIMRA. 12 km west Bergset. Norway |
| | Longer distances and durations quoted sometimes. Landing was disputed |
| 1909-10-05 | 4th Gordon Bennett race 1909. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Edgar W. Mix | Copilot: | Andre Roussel |
| | Zurich (Schlieren). Switzerland to Ostroleka (NO Warszawa) Poland |
| |
| 1910-10-19 | 5th Gordon Bennett race 1910. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Alan R. Hawley | Copilot: | Augustus Post |
| | St. Louis (Forest P). Missuori to Peribonca. Tschotogama Lake. Quebec. Canada |
| | Spent 4 days on foot to reach a canadian timberman |
| 1911-10-06 | 6th Gordon Bennett race 1911. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Hans Gericke | Copilot: | Otto Duncker |
| | Kansas City (Gasworks). USA to Holcombe. Wisconsin |
| |
| 1912-10-29 | 7th Gordon Bennett. 1st place. First over 2000 km |
| | Pilot: | Maurice Bienaimé | Copilot: | René Rumpelmayer |
| | Stuttgart (Cannstatter Wasen). Germany to Rybnoje. Ryazan. 150km SE Moscow. Russia |
| |
| 1913-10-14 | 8th Gordon Bennett race 1913. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ralph M. Upson | Copilot: | R.A.I. Preston |
| | Paris (Jardin des Tuileries). France to Bridlington. Yorkshire. UK |
| |
| 1920-10-25 | 9th Gordon Bennett race 1920. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ernest Demuyter | Copilot: | M. Labrousse |
| | Birmingham. Alabama. USA to North Hero Island. Lake Champlain. Vermont. USA |
| |
| 1921-09-19 | 10th Gordon Bennett race 1921. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Paul Armbruster | Copilot: | Louis Ansermier |
| | Brussels (Solbosch). Belgium to Lambay Island outside Dublin. Ireland |
| |
| 1922-08-07 | 11th Gordon Bennett race 1922. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ernest Demuyter | Copilot: | Alexander Veenstra |
| | Geneva (Gasworks). Switzerland to Osnitca. Romania |
| |
| 1923-09-24 | 12th Gordon Bennett race 1923. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ernest Demuyter | Copilot: | Leon Coeckelbergh |
| | Brussels (Solbosch). Belgium to Sköllersta. Sweden |
| | 3 balloons hit by lightning. Olmstead/Choptaw. USA. v Grüningen/Wehren. CH and Penerand. SP. died |
| 1924-06-17 | 13th Gordon Bennett race 1924. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ernest Demuyter | Copilot: | Leon Coeckelbergh |
| | Brussels (Solbosch). Belgium to St. Abbs Head. Scotland |
| | First trophy won by Belgium |
| 1925-06-09 | 14th Gordon Bennett race 1925. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Alexander Veenstra | Copilot: | Philippe Quersin |
| | Brussels (Solbosch). Belgium to Cap Torinana. Spain |
| | First nation to win Gordon Bennett 5 times |
| 1926-05-31 | 15th Gordon Bennett race 1926. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ward Tunte van Orman | Copilot: | Walter W. Morton |
| | Antwerp (Wilrijk). Belgium to Sölvesborg. Sweden |
| | Second nation to win Gordon Bennett 5 times |
| 1927-09-12 | 16th Gordon Bennett race 1927. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Edward J. Hill | Copilot: | Arthur G. Schlosser |
| | Detroit (Henry Ford Airport). USA to Baxley. Georgia |
| |
| 1928-07-02 | 17th Gordon Bennett race 1928. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | William Elsworth Kepner | Copilot: | William O. Eareckson |
| | Detroit (Henry Ford Airport). USA to Kenbridge. Virginia |
| | Second trophy won by USA |
| 1929-09-29 | 18th Gordon Bennett race 1929. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ward Tunte van Orman | Copilot: | Alan.L. McCracken |
| | St. Louis (Manion Park). USA to Troy. Ohio |
| |
| 1930-09-02 | 19th Gordon Bennett race 1930. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ward Tunte van Orman | Copilot: | Alan.L. McCracken |
| | Cleveland. Ohio. USA to Norfolk. Massachusets |
| |
| 1932-09-25 | 20th Gordon Bennett race 1932. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Thomas G. W. "Tex" Settle | Copilot: | Winfield Bushnell |
| | Basel (Kleinhüningen). Switzerland to Daugieliszki. Vilna. Poland |
| | World distance record. Third GB trophy won by USA. First to win 2 trophies |
| 1933-09-04 | 21th Gordon Bennett race 1933. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Francyzek Hynek | Copilot: | Zbigniew Burzynski |
| | Chicago (Century of Progress Expo). USA to Port Neuf. Quebec. Canada |
| |
| 1934-09-25 | 22nd Gordon Bennett race 1934. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Francyzek Hynek | Copilot: | Wladislaw Pomaski |
| | Warsaw (Pole Mokotowskie Airport). Poland to Anna Woronez. USSR |
| |
| 1935-09-19 | 23rd Gordon Bennett race 1935. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Zbigniew Burzynski | Copilot: | Wladyslav Wysocki |
| | Warsaw (Pole Mokotowskie Airport). Poland to Tiszkino. Stalingrad. USSR |
| | Fourth trophy won by Poland |
| 1936-09-01 | 24th Gordon Bennett race 1936. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ernest Demuyter | Copilot: | Pierre Hoffmans |
| | Warsaw (Pole Mokotowskie Airport). Poland to Miedlesca. Archangelsk. USSR |
| | N 62d 20m 50s - E 42d 52m 03s. Miedlesca. 28 km N Shenkursk |
| 1937-06-22 | 25th Gordon Bennett race 1937. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Ernest Demuyter | Copilot: | Pierre Hoffmans |
| | Brussels (Heyselstadium). Belgium to Tukums (Dzirciems ~60 km W Riga). Latvia |
| |
| 1938-09-13 | 26th Gordon Bennett race 1938. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Antoni Janusz | Copilot: | Franz Janick |
| | Leige (Bressoux). Belgium to Troyan. Bulgaria |
| |
| 1973-02-17 | Winner of the First World Hot Air Balloon Championships |
| | Pilot: | Dennis Floden | Copilot: |
| | Albuquerque. New Mexico. USA. Feb 10-17. 1973 |
| | 32 participants |
| 1975-10-12 | 2nd World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | David Schaffer | Copilot: |
| | Albuquerque. New Mexico. USA |
| |
| 1976-09-14 | Winner of the First World Gas Balloon Championships |
| | Pilot: | Peter Peterka | Copilot: | Kurt Rünzi |
| | Augsburg. Germany. |
| | 20 participants |
| 1977-09-17 | 3rd World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Paul Woessner | Copilot: |
| | York. England |
| |
| 1979-01-10 | 4th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Paul Woessner | Copilot: |
| | Uppsala. Sweden |
| |
| 1980-07-09 | 2nd World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Heinrich Brachtendorf | Copilot: | Helmuth Kärnstadt |
| | St. Niklaas. Belgium |
| |
| 1981-06-27 | 5th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Bruce P. Comstock | Copilot: |
| | Battle Creek. Michigan. USA |
| |
| 1982-10-03 | 3rd World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Peter Peterka | Copilot: | Jean-Paul Kuenzi |
| | Berne. Switzerland |
| |
| 1983-06-26 | 27th Gordon Bennett race 1983. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Stefan Makne | Copilot: | Ireneuz Cieslak |
| | Paris (Place de la Concorde). France to Regensburg. Germany |
| | Third nation to win Gordon Bennett 5 times |
| 1983-09-07 | 6th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Peter Vizzard | Copilot: |
| | Nantes. France |
| |
| 1984-10-15 | 28th Gordon Bennett race 1984. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Karl Spenger | Copilot: | Martin Messner |
| | Zurich (Kloten Airport). Switzerland to La Rochelle. France |
| |
| 1985-07-20 | 7th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | David N. Levin | Copilot: |
| | Battle Creek. Michigan. USA |
| |
| 1985-09-29 | 29th Gordon Bennett race 1985. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Geneva (Cologny Sport Centre). Switzerland to Sanary. Toulon. France |
| |
| 1986-10-19 | 30th Gordon Bennett race 1986. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Salzburg. Austria to Paasdorf. Austria |
| |
| 1986-11-20 | 4th World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Peter Peterka | Copilot: | Jean-Paul Kuenzi |
| | Glendale. Arizona. USA |
| |
| 1987-09-12 | 8th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Albert Nels | Copilot: |
| | Stubenberg. Austria |
| |
| 1987-10-05 | 31st Gordon Bennett race 1987. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Seefeld. Austria to Scoce. Titograd. Yugoslavia |
| | Sixth trophy won by Austria. (Fifth trophy was lost during the war) |
| 1988-08-07 | Winner of the First World Hot Air Airship Championships |
| | Pilot: | Oscar Lindström | Copilot: |
| | Luxembourg July 29 - 7 August 1988 |
| |
| 1988-10-01 | 5th World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Augsberg. Germany |
| |
| 1988-10-25 | 32nd Gordon Bennett race 1988. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Bregenz. Austria to Kleinike. 40 km N Skopje. Yoguslavia |
| |
| 1989-09-17 | 33rd Gordon Bennett race 1989. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Lech am Arlberg. Austria to Batorliget. Debrecen. Hungary |
| | Fourth nation to win Gordon Bennett 5 times |
| 1989-11-27 | 9th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Benedikt Haggeney | Copilot: |
| | Saga. Japan |
| |
| 1990-08-10 | 2nd World Hot Air Airship Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Vincent Dupuis | Copilot: |
| | Clumber Park. UK |
| |
| 1990-09-03 | 34th Gordon Bennett race 1990. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Lech am Arlberg. Austria to Schiave di Abruzzo (Pescara). Italy |
| | Seventh trophy won by Austria with same crew all 6 times. Second to win 2 trophies |
| 1990-09-30 | Winner of the First World Rozière Balloon Championships |
| | Pilot: | Nick Saum | Copilot: |
| | Tyndall. South Dakota. USA |
| |
| 1990-09-30 | 6th World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Gert Scholz |
| | Pheasant Run Farm. Tyndall. South Dakota. USA |
| |
| 1991-08-18 | 10th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Albert Nels | Copilot: |
| | St. Jean-sur-Richelieu. Quebec. Canada |
| |
| 1991-09-23 | 35th Gordon Bennett race 1991. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Volker Kuinke | Copilot: | Jürgen Schubert |
| | Lech am Arlberg. Austria to Nielisz (Zamosc). Poland |
| |
| 1992-09-16 | Winner of first Transatlantic Balloon Race. Bangor. Maine Sep 16 |
| | Pilot: | Wim Verstraeten | Copilot: | Bertrand Piccard |
| | Landed Peque. Spain. Sep 21. |
| | First to land in Europe |
| 1992-09-23 | 36th Gordon Bennett race 1992. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | David N. Levin | Copilot: | James Herschend |
| | Stuttgart (Cannstatter Wasen). Germany to Pryemysl. Poland |
| | 11th victory for USA. Most succesful nation so far. 10th victory was in 1932 |
| 1992-09-20 | 3rd World Hot Air Airship Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Guy Moyano | Copilot: |
| | Besancon. France |
| |
| 1992-10-10 | 7th World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | David N. Levin | Copilot: | Jim Schiller |
| | Obertraun. Austria |
| |
| 1993-08-22 | 11th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Alan Blount | Copilot: |
| | Luxembourg |
| |
| 1993-10-07 | 37th Gordon Bennett race 1993. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: | Rainer Roehsler |
| | Albuquerque. New Mexico. to Campbellsport. Minnesota. USA |
| | Seventh victory for Austria |
| 1994-02-06 | 4th World Hot Air Airship Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Vincent Dupuis | Copilot: |
| | Chateau-d'Oex. Switzerland |
| |
| 1994-09-19 | 38th Gordon Bennett race 1994. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Karl Spenger | Copilot: | Christian Stoll |
| | Lech am Arlberg. Austria |
| | Fourth victory for Switzerland |
| 1994-10-10 | 8th World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Thomas Fink | Copilot: | Rainer Hassold |
| | Albuquerque. New Mexico. USA |
| |
| 1995-03-01 | Awarded first CIA Gold Badge with three diamonds |
| | Pilot: | Bruce P. Comstock | Copilot: |
| | Distance 794km. Duration 24:07 |
| | Altitude: 9 393m. Precision: 0.46m |
| 1995-03-01 | Awarded second CIA Gold Badge with three diamonds |
| | Pilot: | Josef Starkbaum | Copilot: |
| | Distance: 1 832 km. Duration 59:33 |
| | Altitude: 13 670 m. Precision: 0.60m |
| 1995-07-08 | 12th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Joe Heartsill | Copilot: |
| | Battle Creek. Michigan. USA |
| |
| 1995-09-13 | 39th Gordon Bennett race 1995. 1st place. World record |
| | Pilot: | Wilhelm Eimers | Copilot: | Bernd Landsmann |
| | Wil. Switzerland to Ludzasraj. Latvia. |
| |
| 1995-10-10 | 1st America's Challenge 1995. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Richard Abruzzo | Copilot: | David L. Melton |
| | Albuquerque. New Mexico to Caretta. West Virginia |
| |
| 1996-01-17 | 5th World Hot Air Airship Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Jens Petersen | Copilot: |
| | Aosta. Italy |
| |
| 1996-03-01 | Awarded third CIA Gold Badge with three diamonds |
| | Pilot: | David N. Levin | Copilot: |
| | Distance 964.20km. Duration: 45:36 |
| | Altitude: 10 191m. Precision: 0.92m |
| 1996-03-01 | Awarded fourth CIA Gold Badge with three diamonds |
| | Pilot: | Mark Sullivan | Copilot: |
| | Distance 1 280 km. Duration: 65:15 |
| | Altitude: 9 022m. Precision: 0.56m |
| 1996-09-02 | 9th World Gas Balloon Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Thomas Fink | Copilot: | Rainer Hassold |
| | Bitterfeld. Germany |
| |
| 1996-10-01 | 40th Gordon Bennett race 1996. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Wilhelm Eimers | Copilot: | Bernd Landsmann |
| | Warstein. Germany to Petrosani. Romania |
| | Fifth nation to win Gordon Bennett 5 times |
| 1997-09-09 | 41st Gordon Bennett race 1997. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Vincent Leys | Copilot: | Jean-Francois Leys |
| | Warstein. Germany to Mangalia. Romania |
| |
| 1997-09-19 | 1st World Air Games. Hot Air Balloon Event. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Uwe Schneider | Copilot: |
| | Kapadokya. Turkey |
| |
| 1997-11-25 | 13th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | David Bareford | Copilot: |
| | Saga. Japan |
| |
| 1998-09-07 | 6th World Hot Air Airship Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Jacques Besnard | Copilot: |
| | Gatineau. Canada |
| |
| 1998-10-09 | 4th America's Challenge 1998. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Troy Bradley | Copilot: | Tami Stevenson-Bradley |
| | Albuquerque to Ontario. Canada |
| |
| 1998-10-09 | 4th Americas Challenge 1998. 2nd place |
| | Pilot: | Mark Sullivan | Copilot: | Crispin Williams. UK |
| | From Albuquerque |
| |
| 1998-10-09 | 4th Americas Challenge 1998. 3rd place |
| | Pilot: | Richard Abruzzo | Copilot: | Jacob Traub |
| | From Albuquerque |
| |
| 1998-10-09 | 4th Americas Challenge 1998. 4th place |
| | Pilot: | David N. Levin | Copilot: | Alan Levin |
| | From Albuquerque |
| |
| 1999-09-05 | 14th World Hot Air Balloon Championship. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Bill Arras | Copilot: |
| | Bad Waltersdorf. Austria |
| |
| 1999-10-05 | 43rd Gordon Bennett race 1999. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Philippe de Cock | Copilot: | Ronny Van Havere |
| | Albuquerque. USA to Amory. Mississippi |
| | Eighth victory for Belgium. Second most successful nation so far |
| 1999-11-09 | RE/MAX Cup 1999. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Richard Abruzzo | Copilot: | Carol Rymer-Davis |
| | Front Range Airport. Co to Wales. Maine |
| | Eight balloons flew more than 2000 km |
| 2000-09-12 | 44th Gordon Bennett race 2000. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Wilhelm Eimers | Copilot: | Bernd Landsmann |
| | Saint Hubert. Belgium 9 September to Malmö. Sweden 12 September |
| | Sixth victory for Germany |
| 2000-09-10 | 7th World Hot Air Airship Championships. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Jacques Besnard | Copilot: |
| | Die Schlosserstrasse. Austria |
| |
| 2000-10-13 | 5th America's Challenge 2000. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | David N. Levin | Copilot: | Alan S. Levin |
| | Albuquerque to Gorham. Maine |
| |
| 2001-06-30 | 2nd World Air Games. First WAG Gas balloon event. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Klaus Weisgerber | Copilot: | Astrid Gerhardt |
| | First female pilot (copilot) to win a major (World) event |
| | Seville. Spain |
| 2001-06-30 | 2nd World Air Games. Hot Air Balloon Event. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Fujita Masahiko | Copilot: |
| | Seville. Spain |
| |
| 2001-09-04 | 45th Gordon Bennett race 2001. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Vincent Leys | Copilot: | Jean-Francois Leys |
| | Warstein. Germany to Daeni. Romania |
| |
| 2001-10-11 | 6th America's Challenge 2001. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Peter Cuneo | Copilot: | Barbara Fricke |
| | Albuquerque. New Mexico to East Liberty. Ohio |
| |
| 2002-03-08 | Awarded fifth CIA Gold Badge with three Diamonds |
| | Pilot: | David Hempleman-Adams | Copilot: |
| | Distance: 563.43km. Duration: 132:22 |
| | Altitude: 9 104m. Precision: 0.68m |
| 2002-09-03 | 46th Gordon Bennett race 2002. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Vincent Leys | Copilot: | Jean-Francois Leys |
| | Châtellerault. France to Zambujeira do Mar. Portugal |
| | Flew 2 ½ days over the Atlantic before turning back. Arrested by police on landing. |
| 2002-10-07 | 7th Americas Challenge. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Richard Abruzzo | Copilot: | Gary Johnson |
| | Albuquerque. NM to Georgetown. DE |
| |
| 2003-03-08 | Awarded sixth CIA Gold Badge with three Diamonds |
| | Pilot: | Steven Wayne Griffin | Copilot: |
| | Distance 3452 km. duration 56:27 |
| | Altitude 9 437 m. goal flight 0.75 m |
| 2003-09-17 | 47th Gordon Bennett race 2003. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Vincent Leÿs | Copilot: | Jean-Francois Leÿs |
| | Arc et Senans. France to Tinhosas. Portugal |
| | Eighth GB trophy won by France. Sixth nation to win 5 times |
| 2003-10-06 | 8th Americas challenge. 1st place |
| | Pilot: | Richard Abruzzo | Copilot: | Carol Rymer Davis |
| | Albuquerque. NM to Iron River. Wisconsin |
| |
| | © CIA, Hans Åkerstedt | | 2024-12-04 |