The 3rd edition of the GEMAB on the airfield of Chambley
After the first two editions (1989 and 1991) on the airport of Metz-Nancy-Lorraine, the MONDIAL AIR BALLONS which was called at the time the “Biennale Mondiale de l’Aérostation” migrated to the former American airbase of Chambley, at about twenty kilometers as the crow flies. The airbase was deserted and only used from time to time for military exercises. The runway is in good condition, but the 92,000 m2 of buildings are abandoned. We chose the Control Tower as our headquarters. At that time, there was only a door and window manufacturer and a small Ulm club. Water was available from the fire hydrants. Electricity came from generators that must be installed. A real sinecure to make it functional to host visitors for 15 days. It will be so until 2008, the year of its repurchase by the Lorraine region. That will make 30 years in 2023.
