Danielius Komža is the best pilot of the 30th Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship in Birštonas

For the fourth year in a row, 24 pilots from Lithuania and abroad competed in the 30th anniversary Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship in Birštonas. As always, the changeable weather slightly adjusted the competition plans - three of the planned six competition flights took place, during which the pilots performed 13 tasks of various complexity. Gold went to one of the youngest participants of the championship - Danielius Komža (10594 points), second place went to Rimas Kostiukevičius (9696 points), and third place went to Vytas Kerdokas (9034 points).

"At this year's championship, we were surprised by the unexpected performance of one of the youngest and most promising participants of the championship. Danielius Komža knocked down really strong opponents and won the first place, showing a great result. Although the weather was changeable, we are glad that on Saturday evening and Sunday morning the pilots were able to perform very beautiful flights and paint the sky of Birštonas, ”said Žydrūnas Kazlauskas, the organizer of the event and the head of the Audenis Aircraft Club.

Ž. Kazlauskas is also happy about the traditions being nurtured and being developed in the community of pilots. A new prize was established this year - the pilot with the most points, Agnė Simonavičiūtė, was awarded a cash prize. The prize was set up to encourage women to take part in aviation and to achieve better results.

The Lithuanian Hot Air Balloon Championship took place during the Birštonas city festival “Birštonas is raining again”, therefore the visitors of the festival had the opportunity to watch the flights and admire the rising balloons. For the third year in a row, the Parade Fire Festival took place - the championship teams, driving through the streets of the resort and setting flames, created an impressive spectacle for the city's residents and guests.