“Gordon Bennett” in Antwerp

Antwerp now had a new airport, but the role of the "Wilrijckse Plein" was not yet fully played out. In 1926, the organising committee decided not to let the “15th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett” for balloons depart from Brussels, but from "Wilrijckse Plein". On May 30, 1926, the starting signal was given.

It was Emile Van Migem who organised the 15th Gordon-Bennett balloon competition on May 30, 1926. The choice of date was somewhat surprising as it fell early in the year when this competition usually takes place in the fall. The weather was terrible. The Antwerp gas company supplied 10,000 m³ of gas and inflated the balloons in 4 hours. A real achievement.

The first problems were already experienced during the inflation of the balloons due to the continuous rain. All balloons were launched completely soaked and after only a few minutes they disappeared from  public view.

The weather also affected the results: Maurice Bienaimé - an 8-race veteran - stopped after 102km; Ernest Demuyter put his balloon down after 4 hours: he had covered 438 km and thus got third place. The race was won by the Americans Ward T. van Orman and Walter W. Morton, who set down their balloon in Sölvesborg in Sweden. They covered about 864 km in 17 hours.

The Aéroclub of Antwerp was left with a debt of 30,000 francs, an amount that could buy a more than decent house in those days.