How Virtual Serial Port Driver Helped a Hot Air Balloon Pilot in Competition

At Electronic Team, we love hearing real-world stories about how our products are used. Recently, we received feedback from Etienne Mercier, a hot air balloon pilot who used our Virtual Serial Port Driver (VSPD) to enhance his navigation during the World Hot Air Balloon Championship. Here’s his story.

Etienne, flying for the French national team, developed custom navigation software to assist him during flight. His setup required seamless communication between different applications, but he needed a stable solution to redirect data between them.

He reached out to us before the championship, asking for an extension of the VSPD trial period:

"I'm working on a program to help me navigate during competitions. Could you extend my trial? I’ll be participating in the next world championship."

With VSPD, Etienne was able to establish virtual serial communication between his applications, allowing his homemade navigation software to work efficiently. After the FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Hungary, he provided feedback:

"Your software was stable and helped establish communication between my application and another one. It worked quite well."

Thanks to VSPD, working as GPS splitter, Etienne's navigation system performed reliably during the event, helping him secure 20th place out of 120 competitors. The French national team finished as Vice-World Champions.

Etienne expressed interest in continuing with VSPD but needed a tailored solution due to the occasional use:

"I’m willing to make a deal for a discount, as I only need it for one or two competitions a year."

We’re excited to support Etienne and other professionals with customized solutions. Whether you’re working on niche projects or large-scale operations, the Virtual Serial Port Driver offers the flexibility and stability needed for success.

Good luck to Etienne and the French team in future competitions!