Richard Abruzzo (May 19, 1963 – c. September 29, 2010) was a champion American
balloonist
In aeronautics, a balloon is an unpowered aerostat, which remains aloft or floats due to its buoyancy. A balloon may be free, moving with the wind, or tethered to a fixed point. It is distinct from an airship, which is a powered aerostat that ...
who with
Carol Rymer Davis won the 2003 America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race and the 2004
Gordon Bennett Cup.
Background
Abruzzo was born on May 19, 1963, to
Ben Abruzzo
Benjamin L. Abruzzo (June 9, 1930 – February 11, 1985) was an American balloonist and businessman who helped make Albuquerque, New Mexico, into an international ballooning center. He was part of the balloon crews that made the first Atlant ...
and Patricia Ann "Pat" Steen Abruzzo. In his home town of
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...
, his business enterprises included real estate and ski lifts. The ballooning accomplishments of his father Ben, who was part of the balloon crews to first cross the Atlantic ocean in the
Double Eagle II
''Double Eagle II'', piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman (aviator), Larry Newman, became the first balloon to Transatlantic flight, cross the Atlantic Ocean when it landed on 17 August 1978 in Miserey near Paris, 137 hours a ...
and the Pacific ocean in the
Double Eagle V, encouraged Richard's lifetime of balloon accomplishments. In 1992 Richard flew the first gas balloon from North America to Africa breaking the distance record previously held by his father.
He was a five time champion in the America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race winning in 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
The
National Aeronautic Association
The National Aeronautic Association of the United States (NAA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a founding member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Founded in 1905, it is the oldest national aviation club in the Uni ...
awarded Richard Abruzzo the
Harmon Trophy
The Harmon Trophy is a set of three international trophies, to be awarded annually to the world's outstanding aviator, aviatrix, and aeronaut (balloon or dirigible). A fourth trophy, the "National Trophy", was awarded from 1926 through 1938 in av ...
as the year's outstanding
aeronaut
Aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design process, design, and manufacturing of air flight-capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere.
While the term originally referred ...
in 2001, 2003, and 2005. The 2001 Harmon Trophy was for the longest solo flight from
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...
, to
Crawfordville, Georgia. The 2003 Harmon Trophy was for the first solo gas balloon transcontinental flight from
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
to the Georgia coast.
Disappearance and death
Richard Abruzzo and Rymer Davis were lost at sea on September 29, 2010, while competing in the 54th
Gordon Bennett Cup.
Five days after liftoff from
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
, England they encountered a severe thunderstorm and were lost at sea. Their bodies were found off the coast of
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
in the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
on December 6, 2010.
[Bodies Of Missing Balloonists Found In Sea](_blank)
– Sky News
Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel, live stream news network and news organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of ...
See also
*
List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea
Nile Kinnick
Throughout history, people have mysteriously disappeared at sea. The following is a list of known individuals who have mysteriously vanished in open waters, and whose whereabouts remain unknown. In most ocean deaths, bodies are never r ...
References
External links
"A picture of Richard Abruzzo and his wife Nancy in Bristol, England, on 25 September 2010, before the launch of the Gordon Bennett international balloon race."George Bladon/nrgsportspix.com
"Inquiry into missing gas balloonists expected" ''BBC'', October 2, 2010
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abruzzo, Richard
1963 births
2004 in aviation
2010 deaths
2010s missing person cases
American aviation record holders
American balloonists
Aviation history of the United States
Aviators from New Mexico
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Italy
Balloon flight record holders
Formerly missing American people
Harmon Trophy winners
Missing person cases in Italy
People from Albuquerque, New Mexico
People lost at sea
People who died at sea
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2010