Hot Air Ballooning over Brisbane with Fly Me To The Moon

Another International Award

On the 12th September 2005 at the Centenary General Conference of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Steve Griffin, owner and Chief Pilot of Fly Me To The Moon - Hot Air Ballooning was awarded the Henri Mignet Diploma.

This Diploma was established by the FAI in 1984 on a proposal by the FAI Amateur-Built Aircraft Committee. One Diploma may be awarded annually after being proposed by the FAI Amateur-Built Aircraft Committee to an amateur builder who has fulfilled one or more of the following conditions : the development and construction of an aircraft of a new design which has : outstanding performance and low fuel consumption at cruising speed, low noise level, safe handling characteristics.

The Griffin - Mylar Magic is an innovative and technologically advanced design for hot air balloons. It is cheap to build and the construction techniques used are so simple that an airworthy example of the type could be built by persons with even the most modest hand-work skills. Despite its simplicity, the prototype has demonstrated outstanding performance by breaking the world duration record for its class. Its low cost, simplicity and outstanding performance mean that the Griffin-Mylar Magic truly exhibits the Aviation for All philosophy of Henri Mignet.

The award of the Herni Mignet Diploma to Steve Griffin adds to an already impressive list of awards and records that he has achieved including:

World Altitude Records FAI Classes AM-8 - AM15 (Mixed Gas Balloons)
World Duration Record FAI Class AX-2 (Hot Air Balloons)
Montgolfier Diploma for Outstanding Performance in Rosiere Balloons
FAI / CIA Gold Sporting Badge with Altitude, Distance and Duration Diamonds
33 Australian Records for Altitude, Distance and Duration in various balloon classes
Guinness Book of world Records - First Solo Crossing of Australia by Balloon.