LIVE UPDATES, NEWS AND PROGRESS REPORTS FROM FLIGHT CONTROL  






30-05-2025: TEAM STATEMENT

It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that The Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer Balloon has been forced to land near Cardross, Prince Edward Island, Canada at 1415UTC with a suspected gas leak. All 3 crew members are safe.




29-05-2025: TAKEOFF...

Shortly after 2200 The Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer launched from Presque Isle.




29-05-2025: INFLATION & PREP FOR TAKEOFF...

Inflation and takeoff preparation photos with thanks to Dawn & Jim.






28-05-2025: GREEN FOR LAUNCH...

After detailed consultation with our meteorologist and Flight Control Team, inflation of the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer balloon will begin shortly with a planned take off time of 2200EDT.



24-05-2025: GOOD NEWS FROM OUR METEOROLOGIST BUT...

It's good news from our meteorologist with a West to East Flow developing over the Atlantic Ocean and potential for optimal launch conditions in Presque Isle during the middle of next week.

However, the models are subject to change with Don & Randy continuing their work in looking for the best weather pattern. For now we remain patient.

A plan is not a promise...

More soon!



21-05-2025: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH OUR FLIGHT CONTROLLER...


The Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer project involves many agencies outside of the immediate operational team.

As he did on last year's attempt, Flight Controller, Kevin Stass, has been liaising with State Aviation Authorities, Air Traffic Control (ATC), and Search & Rescue (SAR) agencies on both sides of the Atlantic to make the oceanic transit as safe as possible. Without the cooperation of these agencies, this flight could not be undertaken.

Transport Canada & the UK CAA have given their authority for the balloon to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) through their Oceanic airspace. This authority is subject to close liaison between Flight Control, NavCanada (the Canadian Air Navigation Service Provider - ANSP) and the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS).

Once our meteorologists, Don Day & Randy Lefevre, have identified suitable launch conditions in Presque Isle and a steady westerly airflow over the Atlantic, they will discuss their forecast and projected trajectory with the crew, who will decide whether to launch.

Flight Control has been monitoring Notices To Airmen (NOTAMs) to check for any military air exercises or activated danger/prohibited areas that may impact the flight.

They will then pass the forecast trajectory to NavCanada, Gander, about 24 hours before launch. NavCanada will create an Airspace Reservation, which is a sterile air corridor in Oceanic Airspace that will keep other aircraft away from the balloon. The corridor will close behind the balloon once it has safely transited the protected airspace. The corridor extends up to FL180 (18,000ft) and is 120 nautical miles (either side of the centreline) wide.
The control of the balloon will pass from Gander to Shanwick (UK) in mid Atlantic at 30⁰ west longitude.

Kevin will file an ATC Flight Plan (FPL) through the internet-based FAA Flight Service. The FPL route, based on the forecast trajectory, will state "VFR" between Presque Isle and the closest Oceanic Airspace entry waypoint off the Eastern coast of Canada. It will then state waypoints every 5 degrees of longitude to the Western coast of Europe. The FPL will be updated as the flight progresses and extended beyond European landfall if necessary.

Flight Control has already been in contact with SAR to keep them informed of the planned flight. The crew will be wearing Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) that can be activated automatically in the unlikely event of a ditching at sea. The PLBs each have a unique identification code that is transmitted, when activated, to a satellite receiver and relayed to SAR Atlantic Coordination Centres on the ground. The code identifies the owner and location of the PLB.

Kevin has worked on a lot of previous high profile, long distance aviation projects and firmly believes in including these various agencies in the team to work together towards a safe and successful flight.

A quick look at the weather... Don & Randy report that the weather models are continuing to stabalise into next week. Good news! Potential flight trajectory analysis will now continue in the coming days... More soon! 



19-05-2025: UNSTABLE WEATHER BUT BETTER SOON?


For the coming week, weather conditions remain unstable and unsuitable for launch with cloud, precipitation (rain) and bad flight trajectories remaining in place.

Nevertheless, confidence continues to grow that by the end of the month we will see an improvement in the weather and potentially good flight trajectories over the ocean.

But, this potential change in the weather is still sometime away. For now, our meteorologists, Don Day Jnr & Randy Lefevre will continue to study the weather models.

More soon...



18-05-2025: WELCOME PETER & ALICIA!


We are delighted to welcome Peter Cuneo & Alicia Hempleman-Adams who will be joining Bert onboard the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer.

Welcome Peter...
Peter has flown in the Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett long-distance gas balloon competitions out of various countries in Europe and the US, with his wife Barbara Fricke as co-pilot with 3rd, 4th and 5th place finishes recorded. Peter has also flown in twenty America's Challenge gas balloon competitions, with four first, five second and three third place finishes recorded.

Welcome Alicia...
Alicia holds the record for the youngest person to have reached the North Pole when she was flown there to meet her father at the age of eight. In February 2020, Alicia set the World Female Altitude Record in an AX4 Class hot air balloon, at 4628m, and the British Female Duration Record at 1h 46min in the same flight. In 2022, Alicia went on to break the distance and duration records in the same balloon with a distance of 301km and duration of 7hrs 39mins.

It’s straight to work for Peter & Alicia who have joined Bert and the team in Presque Isle to continue preparations.

In the meantime, the weather continues to be unsuitable for now but improvement is due for the coming days. How this develops only time will tell. More soon!

17-05-2025: A STATEMENT FROM OUR TITLE SPONSORS TORABHAIG...

Having been on standby for the previous two summers, Frederik and David are both sad that they are unable to be on standby for the 2025 flight window.

Peter Cuneo and Alicia Hempleman-Adams have taken their places on the team standing by to fly with Bert Padelt in 2025.



15-05-2025: PIPER AND THE WEATHER...

Bert has sent in this lovely photo of Joanie, Jason & himself with the newly appointed flight mascot Piper!



Back to the flight and we remain on hold with the stubborn weather pattern set to continue for the coming days. Hope remains for an impovement in the weather soon...

In the meantime, our meteorologist, Don Day Jnr will explain the process of forecasting the weather for a transatlantic flight. Over to Don!

The pattern best suited for a successful and safe Atlantic crossing is a combination of multiple weather variables/criteria that have to come together all at once for the flight to reach its goals.

First and foremost we need a wind pattern that is consistently west to east from Maine to Europe with no major turns to the north or the south. This pattern has to be in place at least for 5 days without any major changes so we can be confident of the winds taking the balloon from continent to continent without any major deviations from the course. Once we have the above in place we need to have good weather conditions for launch. This would include light winds for inflation, dry conditions and not a lot of cloud cover. We also have to have good weather predicted for landing conditions on the other side where they may land (we don't want high winds or precipitation/thunderstorms). We have to have good weather expected on both ends (ie, for takeoff and landing).

Once we have satisified the wind pattern and takeoff and landing weather we then have to predict the weather along the expected flight path. We need to have little or no chance for thunderstorms, no heavy precipitation and no possible icing conditions on the balloon. We also have take into account airspace requirements to make sure we are no going to cause any airspace issues along the flight path. We have to have all the criteria met above before we can give the green light and then hope we don't have any surprise weather systems pop up or change.



12-05-2025: READY AND WAITING...

Since arriving in Presque Isle, Maine the team have been busy preparing the balloon equipment for launch day. With preparations now complete, the focus turns to the weather and potential launch opportunities ahead.

To date we have remained in a constant unsettled spell of weather. The latest update from our meteorologists is for little change in the coming days with rain due later this week at the launchsite and low pressure systems continuing to block any potential route to Western Europe. However, long range forecast models are still suggesting better weather for later in the month with the team carefully monitoring weather patterns and forecasts on a daily basis. For now, patience is once again key.

11-05-2025: UNSETTLED WEATHER REMAINS...

The unsettled and ultimately unsuitable weather for a transatlantic flight continues into the coming week. Once again there are hints at a potential change for the better however it is still too early to make any judgement on this just yet.


07-05-2025: WEATHER UPDATE...

Today's weather report shows no change with low pressure patterns continuing to dominate the weather over the ocean. There are tentative signs that into next week the weather situation could begin to improve however this is by no means certain at this stage. Patience remains key.



06-05-2025: NO CHANGE IN THE WEATHER FOR NOW...

The latest update from the meteorologist sadly shows little change with stubborn low pressure systems situated over the Atlantic Ocean. For now patience is required.

Despite the bad weather over the Atlantic, conditions in Presque Isle were perfect for a hot air balloon flight yesterday evening. Bert took full advantage of the good weather and enjoyed a wonderful flight with friends over the Maine countryside. Thanks go to Paul Cyr for the photos.

05-05-2025: PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL VISIT...

In a break away from preparations at the launchsite, Joanie & Bert attended Presque Isle High School and talked to pupils about the upcoming transatlantic flight. Thank you to the staff and pupils of Presque Isle High School!

29-04-2025: FLIGHT WINDOW & COMMS TESTING...

As per the update below, the 2025 flight window is now open!

Work is well underway with our meteorologists regularly monitoring weather conditions and patterns for a potential launch date.At present, conditions remain unstable and therefore unsuitable for a west to east crossing of the ocean.

Despite the weather forecast, there is still plenty for the team to do in Presque Isle. Today, comms testing has commenced with Starlink which will enable communication between the balloon and Flight Control in Bristol. An essential piece of equipment when airborne.


The first photo shows the HF radio antena being deployed for the test. This type of communication test is only possible with the gracious support of Paul Cyr. The second, third and fourth photos show Joanie & Bert during the test with Piper the dog as company! 

2025 FLIGHT WINDOW NOW OPEN






29-04-2025: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SAND AND HYDROGEN IN PRESQUE ISLE...

A busy day for the team in Presque Isle. After collecting the sand ballast yesterday the next job was to fill the bags. Pictured below are Joanie, Bert & Jason busy preparing and filling the bags with not only sand but a little road salt which help prevent the ballast from freezing into a solid block when flying at high altitude. The crew will also carry a mallet in the basket which can be used to break up the sand in case the salt does not work. Bags full the team then welcomed the giant hydrogen tube trailer to site.

     

28-04-2025: ARRIVAL IN PRESQUE ISLE...

The team has now arrived in Presque Isle, Maine after a long drive from Bally, Pennsylvania. On the way, the team passed New York City and ventured along the famous Hudson River Valley in eastern New York state. Now in Presque Isle the jobs have started... balloon equipment unloaded ︎, ballast collected ︎

In the meantime, back in the UK, Kevin continues his work on establishing essential communication links for the flight ahead of the May 1st flight window opening. More soon!

25-04-2025: LOADING TIMES...

Loading the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer into the trailer ready for it’s long trip to the launchsite in Presque Isle, Maine.

The beginining of a great adventure!

More soon...




18-04-2025: PREPARATIONS CONTINUE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC

Preparations continue on both sides of the Atlantic ahead of the 2025 flight window opening on Thursday 1st May.

In Pennsylvania, we have Bert alongside the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer basket in his workshop. Bert and the team will begin their long trip to Presque Isle, Maine next Friday!

Meanwhile in the UK, Flight Control Team member Kevin Stass continues his pre-flight work with aviation authorities in North America and Europe.

Happy Easter!

15-04-2025: 2024 LAUNCH PHOTOS

Fantastic photos captured by Paul Cyr of the preparation and launch of the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer from Presque Isle, Maine last June. Thanks Paul!





03-04-2025: THE 2025 FLIGHT WINDOW 

The team are delighted to announce that the 2025 flight window will open on Thursday 1st May. The Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer will once again be piloted by Bert Padelt with co-pilot Sir David Hempleman-Adams and Prof.Frederik Paulsen.Bert and the team will begin their intrepid adventure by road on Friday 25th April from Bally, Pennsylvania and head to the launchsite in Presque Isle, Maine. A journey of over 1,180km. Once established in Presque Isle, the team will begin preparations and along with our meteorologists begin the process of monitoring weather conditions for a launch. Operations in Europe will once again be managed by Flight Control in Bristol, UK.

Photo credit: Paul Cyr