April 7, 1999. The Breitling Orbiter 3 team including Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, the pilots who completed the first successful round-the-world balloon flight, were awarded the "Budweiser Cup" trophy and $1,000,000 at a press conference held today at the National Air and Space Museum. Breitling USA President Marie Bodman also announced that the Breiling Orbiter 3 gondola (capsule) will be donated to the National Air and Space Museum's collection. The National Air and Space Museum anticipates that the gondola (capsule) will be on display in mid-September of 1999.

The Breitling Orbiter 3, piloted by Piccard and Jones, began it's historic flight on March 1 from Chateau d'Oex in the Swiss Alps. The official completion of the trip around the world occurred March 20, 1999 over Mauritania, North Africa. The team landed the following day in Egypt. The trip was the team's third attempt at the round-the-world record.

Anheuser-Busch Awards $1,000,000, "Budweiser Cup" to Breitling Orbiter 3 Team for Completing Round-The-World Balloon Trip

Press Conference 11:00A.M. April 7, 1999

$1,000,000 check and "Budweiser Cup" trophy awarded to the Breitling Orbiter 3 team by Anheuser-Busch. The Budweiser Cup is an aviation challenge which began in November of 1997 to award the first aeronautical team to successfully circumnavigate the globe nonstop in a balloon. $500,000 is awarded to the Breitling Orbiter 3 team and $500,000 will be given to the charity or nonprofit organization of the team's choice.