Abdullah lauds UAE Balloon record of achievements

Abu Dhabi, Aug 14, 2011 (WAM) - H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister, has lauded spectacular achievements the UAE Balloon team made at international hot balloon events.
Sheikh Abdullah marvelled at the team's impressive and breakthrough flying over the court of the holy shrine in Mecca.
Sheikh Abdullah, who made his remarks during a meeting last night with the UAE Balloon team led by Captain Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Mansouri, endorsed a creative design for a new flag balloon.
Al Mansouri, who briefed Sheikh Abdullah on design of the first-of its- kind balloon in the region, said the balloon, which bears the UAE flag, will debut on the 40th national day celebrations next December. The balloon, he added, would be launched in Britain and then make an international tour.
The UAE balloons, bearing the portraits of UAE leaders - President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, made waves at international hot balloon festivals. The first balloon carried the image of the late founding father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the theme of ''World will not forget you Zayed''. So far, the team flew in about 30 Arab and friendly countries.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah heard a technical presentation from the chairman of the Khalifa Balloon Award in Europe on requirements for flying a balloon, wind traffic, temperature and types of gases used to fire the balloon.
The team's vision is to bring the peaceful message of the United Arab Emirates and their rulers to other countries around the globe using the majesty and dignity of ballooning. - Emirates News Agency, WAM