Preparations are underway here at the Gladbeck for launch on Sunday 18 September 2016, with pilots arriving at the balloon airfield. One of the first jobs for each team is to fill about 100 sandbags in preparation for the launch and flight...

Preparations are underway here at the Gladbeck for launch on Sunday 18 September 2016, with pilots arriving at the balloon airfield. One of the first jobs for each team is to fill about 100 sandbags in preparation for the launch and flight..

Switzerland’s Walter Gschwandtner (SUI03) explained: “There are two types of ballast bag. Lightweight ones that we fly with, and heavier ones that we leave behind.”

Each bag weighs about 12kg when full, which means each balloon is weighted down by 1,200kg of ballast at the start.

When the balloon launches, just over half of that ballast is left behind on the ground. “We take off with about 500kg. That is then our method of control actually.”

Pilots dump ballast throughout the flight to go higher and navigate through different flight levels, taking advantage of the wind at various altitudes. Always, of course, with the aim of going the furthest.

Once pilots launch, follow the action through Live Tracking on this website.