It is July 21, 1979. Alec van Caloen and I are at the centre of the Spa Francorchamps circuit with the LOTTO mission to take the singer Plastic Bertrand (« Ça plane pour moi ») at 4 pm, just before the start of the 24 hours, for a hot air balloon flight.

We are in Annonay, the village of the Montgolfier brothers, on September 15, 1979, 196 years after their first ascent. This is the Champagne Mercier challenge. Distance competition, alone on board.