Janet Folkes

Dr Janet Folkes (20 July 1959 – 17 January 2012)[1] was an academic from Nottingham, who held multiple ballooning records.[2] She died in 2012 from cancer.[3]

Career

She was in the University of Nottingham's Engineering Faculty and an expert on lasers.[4] She researched the use of lasers in cutting, welding and shaping metals- working closely with the engine maker Rolls-Royce.[2]

Ballooning

Folkes died in January 2012 but left as a legacy the Nottingham University balloon, G-NUNI.[5] She competed in the Gordon Bennett cup in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009; this is for gas filled balloons. During the 2009 race she set the women's world endurance record with Dr Ann Rich staying in the air for over 69 hours.[6][7] She also piloted hot air balloons.

She established 45 World records.[8]

In 1995 she set the women's world altitude balloons record.

She was involved as a technical engineer on the non-stop around the world attempt by Richard Branson, Per Lindstrand and Steve Fossett.[6]


References
  1. "FAI Ballooning Commission - Hall of Fame - Janet Folkes - Inducted 2015" (PDF). Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  2. "BBC - Nottingham Features - Janet Folkes - world record breaking balloonist". www.bbc.co.uk. October 2003. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  3. "A tribute to Dr Janet Folkes". Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  4. "Dr Janet Folkes - The University of Nottingham". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  5. Brooke, Lindsay (23 November 2015). "Nottingham balloon - a taste of summer! - The News Room". The News Room. Nottingham University. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  6. "Janet Folkes". The Times (paywall). 4 February 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. "Test Tube - Behind the scenes in the world of science". www.test-tube.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  8. "Royal Aero Club Silver Medal | British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC)". www.bbac.org. Retrieved 7 February 2019.


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