The Corps of EME conducted a hot air ballooning expedition from Bhopal to Mhow covering a distance of 240 km to spread the message of goodwill among civilians. The expedition which was held under the aegis of Army Adventure Wing was flagged off from Jit Stadium, 3 EME Centre, Bhopal by Brig Vinod Chopra, Commander, MP Sub Area. The team comprised two officers, one JCO and five ORs, with one officer and four ORs as the ground support team.

The 1,40,000 cubic feet balloon used for the expedition was of 1997 vintage with quadrangular burners. One 77,000 cubic feet balloon with double burners was kept as reserve and used for tethered aero shows at Sehore, Dewas and Mhow. It was a moment of pride when the giant orange coloured balloon took off with Lt Col JP Singh and Maj Kumar Bhaskar. The wind was calm and pilots could effectively utilise their skills to fly at a height which offered direction towards Sehore, 38 kms from Bhopal. The balloon flew over the Bhopal-Sehore highway and landed at Agricultural College Ground. Later in the evening, an aero show-cum-exhibition of HAB equipment was organised. Thereafter, the team moved by road to Asta, 44 kms from Sehore. Local people had gathered in large number to witness the balloon being flagged off by SDM Asta, Mr R Gupta. The pilots Maj Kumar Bhaskar and Nb Sub Santosh Kumar undertook the longest flight of two-hours-and-ten minutes, covering a distance of 70 km and landed at Neori village near Dewas. In the evening, a demonstration of HAB equipment with tethered flight was held at Police Lines Ground which was attended by District Collector, SP, district officials, NCC cadets and school students.

Then the balloon took off for Mhow. It crossed over the outskirts of Indore and then followed the highway. It was not possible to manoeuvre the balloon from one place to another since it was entirely on the mercy of the winds. The handheld Magellan GPS held with HAB Nodal Centre was effectively used for conforming the desired direction.

The balloon landed near Golf Course, Mhow after flying over Infantry School and the Army Golf Course. Brig BD Wadhawa, Commandant, 3 EME Centre received the team. The expedition was ceremonially flagged in by Brig Rakesh Kumar, Station Commander, Mhow.

The expedition from Bhopal to Mhow marked a major step forward in the field of adventure activities undertaken by the Army. This will certainly go a long way in boosting the confidence of hot air balloonists to undertake longer and more daring ventures in the future.