Steve Phillips, who has been flying hot-air balloons for less than three years, hopes to accept an invitation to join 19 other balloonists in a Soviet competition.
Phillips, 43, Park City, said Thursday he is trying to raise money for the trip and the first international hot-air balloon competition in the Soviet Union Aug. 13-28 in several cities, including Moscow and Kiev.The Utah Wildlife Resources Division employee has asked his brother, Mike, and two other Park City residents to serve as his crew for the competition, the Gordon Bennett Balloon Race Soviet Union Tour.
Bennett, editor-owner of the New York Herald, established the Gordon Bennett trophies in yachting and automobile and airplane races in the early 1900s.