The Balloon that Fell from the SkyFifteen teams lifted off from Switzerland in gas ballooning’s most audacious race. “We’ll have to damn near put it in the river or they’re gonna hop over us,” he told Brielmann. Wallace’s final message and both pilots’ silence were disconcerting, but Hockeler told herself not to worry until she had more information. Wallace introduced the couple at the 1994 World Gas Balloon Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a race Hockeler flew with another German pilot. Hockeler, Vic, and Stürzlinger piled into the borrowed Audi and left Warsaw by 7 p.m. to return to Terespol.