Bud Light to Sponsor Steve Fossett's Upcoming Solo Round-the-World Balloon Mission

Download image

A F EPICEPT LOGO EPICEPT LOGO EpiCept Corporation logo. (PRNewsFoto) (Newscom TagID: prnphotos043001)[AS] ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ UNITED STATES 01/10/2005

    ST. LOUIS, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Bud Light, the world's best-selling
 light beer, today announced it will sponsor adventurer Steve Fossett's
 upcoming attempt to complete the first solo round-the-world balloon mission.
 Fossett is scheduled to launch the "Bud Light Spirit of Freedom" balloon from
 Northam, Australia, in June.
     (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020513/CGM042 )
     Fossett has attempted to circumnavigate the globe five previous times
 during 1997, 1998 and 2001.  His last attempt was in August 2001, when he also
 launched from Northam, and inclement weather forced him to land in Bage,
 Brazil, after 12 days.  That is the longest solo balloon flight on record.
     "Steve Fossett is one of the world's most accomplished adventurers, and
 we're proud to support his historic mission to circle the globe," said Joe
 Castellano, vice president, retail marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.  "Steve and
 the 'Bud Light Spirit of Freedom' team have worked hard to prepare for this
 journey.  With their expertise and competitive fire, they are ready to make
 history."
     Fossett is looking forward to the upcoming flight.
     "The first solo round-the-world balloon flight is my greatest challenge.
 Again this year, I have the help of my expert balloon team and student interns
 from Washington University in St. Louis.  Now Bud Light has joined the effort.
 This is a grand adventure and with this team, I have every chance of success,"
 Fossett said.
     Mission control for the flight will again be located at Washington
 University in St. Louis.  Immediately after the launch from Northam, the
 project manager, mission control director, meteorologists, and other members
 of the balloon team will direct round-the-world flight operations from this
 nerve center.
     Eighteen Washington University students from the School of Engineering &
 Applied Science, The Olin School of Business, and the College of Arts &
 Sciences will serve as interns on the project, working closely with the
 mission control balloon team 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the
 duration of the flight.  These internships are made possible by a generous
 grant from Barron Hilton, a long-time ballooning enthusiast and admirer of
 Steve Fossett and his many accomplishments.
     "Washington University is pleased to host mission control, and we are
 especially grateful to Barron Hilton for making it possible for so many of our
 students to have a wonderful learning experience and to participate in such an
 exciting, once-in-a-lifetime adventure," said Mark S. Wrighton, Chancellor of
 Washington University in St. Louis.  "We all wish Steve Fossett, our alumnus
 and trustee, Godspeed and every success on his upcoming attempt to achieve the
 last, greatest record in aviation."
     Fossett's launch date for the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is scheduled for
 mid- to late June, based on weather conditions.  His launch site is located in
 Northam, approximately 60 miles east of Perth, Australia.  For up-to-date
 information on the status of the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom mission during
 and after Fossett's launch, visit www.spiritoffreedom.com or
 www.budlight.com .
     Fossett holds official world records in balloons, sailboats and airplanes.
 His round-the-world balloon attempts in August 1998 and August 2001 are the
 longest solo flights in a balloon for distance and duration, respectively -
 and, in fact, by any type of aircraft.  He has made the first balloon crossing
 of Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, the South Atlantic, South Pacific and
 Indian Oceans, plus the first solo flight across the Pacific Ocean.
     Bud Light will support its sponsorship of the mission through advertising
 initiatives, as well as feature stories and news updates on www.BudLight.com .
     Anheuser-Busch has a long history of supporting aviation and aviation
 challenges.  In 1999, the company awarded the Budweiser Cup trophy and a
 $1 million prize to the Breitling Orbiter 3 Team, which became the first team
 to successfully complete a round-the-world voyage in a balloon.  The Budweiser
 Cup prize -- which was initiated in 1997 -- included $500,000 awarded to the
 team and $500,000 awarded to the charity or non-profit organization of their
 choice.
     In addition, previous aeronautical sponsorships for Anheuser-Busch include
 the Bud Light Micro Jet, the Budweiser.com Airship and a variety of hot air
 balloons representing the company's brands.
     Washington University, a medium-sized, independent university, is counted
 among the world's leaders in teaching and research.  Twenty-one Nobel
 laureates have been associated with Washington University, with nine doing the
 major portion of their pioneering research there.
     Approximately 12,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students
 enrolled at Washington University represent all 50 states and more than 80
 international locations.  The university's 2,567 full-time faculty teach in
 eight schools: architecture, art, arts & sciences, business, engineering, law,
 medicine and social work.  The university offers more than 90 programs and
 almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in
 a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional
 opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.
     Bud Light is a member of the Budweiser Family of Beers, which are brewed
 by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the world's largest brewer.
 
                     MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
                http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X53520334
 
 

SOURCE  Bud Light