Story by: Thomas Fink, Germany

Not many people are fortunate enough to reach the age of 100 in good health. And among those, who can look back on 69 years of ballooning?

Horst Haßold recently celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends from his family, the Freiballonverein Augsburg, and his Rotary Club. Where else but at the Balloon Museum in Gersthofen near Augsburg!

The sprightly centenarian welcomed his guests with a lively and humorous 10-minute speech. He pointed out that reaching such an old age is quite simple: "You just have to not die beforehand!" and stated that he would also like to take another gas balloon flight should the opportunity arise.

Haßold's impressive career in gas ballooning began with his first flight in 1956, and a year later, he completed his check flight.

Until 1994, he was able to make 10-20 gas balloon flights each year. His territory was not limited to Germany: flights in many European countries, as well as in Canada and Japan, are recorded in his flight log. Between 1966 and 1987, he launched 19 times from Mürren in Central Switzerland for alpine flights.

As the managing director of the “Ballonfabrik Augsburg”, he was involved in the import and testing of the first hot air balloon in Germany in 1969.

His list of honourary positions is impressive: he served twice as the first chairman of the Freiballonverein Augsburg for a total of 15 years, was a member of the Ballooning Commission in German National Aeroclub DAeC for 16 years and was the German delegate to the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) for six years.

Haßold also served as the secretary of the CIA for five years and as its president for four. Horst Haßold has been an Honourary President of the CIA since 1982 and the Honourary Chairman of Freiballonverein Augsburg since 1992. In 1983, he received the FAI Montgolfier Diploma, the highest award in ballooning worldwide.

Privately, he was blessed with four children, and his son Rainer followed in his footsteps, becoming the gas balloon world champion together with Thomas Fink in 1994 and 1996. Horst Haßold did not miss the opportunity to support the chase team with his experience and even by driving the chase car.