Longest distance balloon flight (AX-04, female)

The longest distance flight in an AX-04 class balloon was made by Alicia Hempleman-Adams (UK) on 22 November 2022. The British solo aeronaut remained in the air for 301.9 km (187.1 mi) over Alberta and Sasketchewan, Canada, in an Ultra Magic H-31.

The FAI's AX-04 class is for hot-air balloons with an envelope of 600 to 900 m3 (21,100–31,700 cu ft). These balloons are relatively small – around 13 m (42 ft) in diameter – and designed to be operated by a single pilot in a one-metre-wide basket.

Alicia Hempleman-Adams broke her first record in May 1998 when, at the age of 8 years 173 days, she become the youngest person to visit the North Pole. She flew there as part of the welcoming committee for her adventurer father, David Hempleman-Adams, who was trekking across the ice to the pole at the conclusion of his campaign to be the first to claim the Adventurer's Grand Slam (climbing the seven summits and trekking to both poles).

She has joined her father on many of his subsequent adventures, including an overland crossing of Baffin Island, Canada, and various hot-air balloon voyages. She earned her own balloon pilot's license in 2012, and has flown regularly since then. In Feb 2020 she broke the women's AX-04 altitude record by flying to 4,628 m (15,183 ft) from the same launch site.

Alicia and her team chose Alberta, Canada, for the attempt because of its low temperatures (which mean more dense air, and thus better lifting performance from the balloon) as well as its flat prairie terrain (which makes landings easier). The downside of this choice is that it makes for a very uncomfortable flight, with temperatures in the basket dropping to -30 C (-22 F).