In September 1983 the bicycle racer Robert Hutyra inflated near Božice, Znojmo region his homemade hot air balloon and flew to Austria. The successful flight, however, preceded complicated arrangements. Prior to the start at a remote place they checked everything once again. They had all the necessary equipment to start, but also all the assets. Two bags and a racing bike that the father of the family tied to steel construction. And four bottles of propane-butan.
The children became aware of the plan two days in advance. Fourteen-year-old daughter and eleven-year-old son were thrilled. „For them it was the greatest adventure and an unforgettable balloon flight. For the wife, who sewed the balloon, the flight was a test of nerves, so that everything would go well," described Hutyra later.
The turn came to platform construction and inflating the balloon. The fan connected to a vehicle motor worked and at 10:30 pm Hutyra began with heating. It took ten minutes. Anchor ropes tightened. The family of four was squeezed in steel gondola of 1x1m dimension. "After the start the feeling of release prevailed and all the tension of the last months` preparation immediately dropped", described later the amateur balloon flyer.
They were about ten kilometres far from the border. They started at about 10:30 pm. After a difficult flight they managed to land in Austria near the Falkenstein commune. They were happy. Robert Hutyra, the fivefold Slovak champion and twofold champion of Czechoslovakia managed to win again. He settled with his family in the USA, Colorado.
Photo gallery
The reconstruction of the flight with a bike
Flakenstein – the place of landing
Wishes of Ronald Reagan to Hutyra
Walking route suggestion
- Falkenstein
