On Tuesday 22nd November 2022, after a further 2.5 years of planning and training since her last World Record balloon flight, Alicia set a new FAI AX4 female duration record of 7 hrs 40 mins and 30 secs. This was previously held by Canadian Sandra Wolfe since November 2015 with 7 hrs 24m 35s. 

On the same flight Alicia set a new FAI AX4 female distance record of 301.9 kms. This was also held by Sandra Wolfe since January 2012 with 118 kms. The flight therefore more than doubled the distance record. In addition to gaining the two duration and distance world records, Alicia also set a total of 10 new British general (male and female) and female records. Some of these records previously dated back to 1994.

Alicia took off from High River, Alberta, Canada, chosen because its low ground temperature helps the balloon operate more efficiently. The weather conditions were particularly tricky with a strong warm Chinook wind. Ground temperature was -1C and the winds caused a strong curl over effect on take-off. Alicia’s balloon had to be held on the ground while being heated at the start, so that her initial climb was as rapid as possible to avoid crashing due to the curl-over.

Alicia flew in a strong wind, with a significant part of the flight at speeds of 50kph and had to work hard for the entire flight to keep her balloon stable between layers of air moving in different directions and at different speeds. It led to her balloon sometimes rotating as she crossed these layers. Alicia flew in temperatures estimated below -30C, with the ground temperature on landing being -4C, plus a significant wind chill on landing.

In February 2020 Alicia set the World Female Altitude Record in an AX4 Class hot air balloon, at 4628m (15,184 feet), and gained the British Female Duration Record in the same flight. 

Prior to the latest record flight, Alicia worked with balloon maker, ‘Ultramagic’, refining the equipment for a completely different type of flight. The double-skinned balloon was fitted refined with internal lines for breaking accumulated ice. She also consulted with Canadian meteorological experts and trained for duration flights in Mondovi, Italy before going to Calgary.

Alicia is the daughter of British explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams and holds the record for the youngest person to have reached the North Pole, when she was flown there to meet her father at the age of eight. On 13 April 2005, aged 15, she became the youngest person to traverse Baffin Island, taking 10 days to walk and ski the 200 miles. Alicia and her three companions had to battle a wind chill factor of -30C, thin ice and open water along the trek.

Alicia is a strong ambassador for British and female pilots and ballooning, gaining huge respect from everyone who has worked with her and handling the world’s media’s attention with good grace.  She is a very worthy recipient of the Myles Bickerton Trophy for outstanding flying achievement in General Aviation.

2014  The Blades

2015  Sqn Ldr Gary Coleman RAFR

2016  Maj Ryan D Chute USAF

2017  Donatella Ricci

2018  not awarded

2019  Captain Jeffrey Milsom BSc(Hons)

2020  not awarded

2021  John Stirk

2022  Steven Jones

2023  Alicia Nicole Hempleman-Adams