Long before Windsond became the world's lightest radiosonde, there was ballooning.
The idea behind Windsond, and in many ways the foundation of Sparv Embedded, grew out of the needs of hot-air balloon pilots, who depend on knowing how the wind changes with altitude. Balloon pilots were among our first users, and their feedback, curiosity and passion helped turn an idea into a real product.
Today, Windsond is used by weather and climate researchers, firefighters and defense organizations who need a mobile, field-friendly way to measure the atmosphere. But ballooning will always have a special place in our hearts.
The 26th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship is taking place right now in Krosno, Poland, and we're delighted to share these photos from the event, kindly sent to us by Rhett Heartsill (USA), who is competing. It's a joy to see the sport that inspired Windsond keep pushing the boundaries of precision, skill and technology.
To all the pilots, teams, organizers and volunteers in Krosno: good luck and blue skies! 🎈
And to Rhett, thank you for sharing these moments with us.