Project Objectives

Adventure of the Heart aims to enhance public awareness of heart research and science education while establishing attempting to establish a new world record in hot air ballooning.

Rich Jaworski's science and engineering background, along with a family history of heart disease, have led him to take a strong interest in raising funds for heart disease research in Nebraska and Iowa.  The American Heart Association currently funds $2.7 million dollars in biomedical research in four Nebraska hospitals, including the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Kearney, and Creighton University Medical Center.  AHA-funded research has led to life-saving advances including CPR, heart-lung machines, stents and pace makers, to name a few.

Balloon system improvements utilized by Adventure of the Heart include:

  • A double wall balloon envelope – reducing heat loss and improving fuel economy;
  • Light weight envelope fabrics and cold weather protection clothing for the pilot;
  • Redundant burner configuration with precision machined fuel nozzles to optimize fuel utilization;
  • Utilization of cold weather conditions, flight equipment designed and prepared for temperatures of -40°F;
  • Computer modeling of flight parameters.

    • Project Schedule:


      December 12

    		 First (tethered) inflation of Adventure in Nebraska.

      December 17

    		 First free flight test (successful).  Flight duration, 2 hours, 55 minutes. Distance covered, 44 miles.

      January 5, 2006

    		 8:30 AM Media event/tethered flight @ Lake Zorinsky, Omaha

      January, 2006

    		 Four to 8 hour training flights to learn more about the fuel consumption and flight characteristics of the aircraft.  Locations/times to be announced 24 hours before flight.

      January - March 2007

    		 Record Challenge flight to be made in Alaska, Alberta, Canada, or North Dakota. Expected flight duration 14+ hours

    World Aviation Records Information

    Oversight and registry of aviation world records is maintained by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale located in Lausanne, Switzerland -- http://www.fai.org/ Outstanding aviation feats are witnessed, evaluated, and recorded for aero sports which include spacecraft, land planes, seaplanes, balloons, airships, gliders, hang gliders, parachutes, and human powered aircraft to name a few.

    In hot air balloon world records are maintained for the 14 sizes, according to envelope volume, for accomplishments of distance, altitude, and duration.

    Aspirants challenging a world record must first obtain a sporting license to be a record challenger from their national governing air sports authority. In the United States, this authority is the National Aeronautics Association.

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