Victor Zagainov

Victor Zagainov (May 31, 1953 – October 5, 2002) was a hot air balloon pilot and astronomer from Kazakhstan. He was the first and only hot air balloon champion of the USSR, Hot Air Balloon champion of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1993), and the FAI Air Sport Medal (Award ID# 5244) In the same year the Soviet Union collapsed, so Victor Zagainov was the only one to receive this title. His astronomy club students were not only his first passengers, but also members of his crew. Three out of the four members of his crew at the National Championship of USSR in 1991 were his former students.

Grand Prix of Zagainov Victor was one of the biggest promoters of Hot Air Ballooning. As part of this work in his new home country Kazakhstan he organized Hot Air Balloon competition - Grand Prix of Zagainov. For the first time it took place in 1992. Such event offered opportunity for novice pilots to improve their skills, while introducing international standards to them. To help Kazakh pilots improve their level, Victor invited pilots from Pakistan, France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Germany, United States, Ukraine and Russia. Main goal of Grand Prix of Zagainov was to rise new generation of pilots.

As part of Grand Prix of Zagainov in 1996 Victor organized national records setting flight for Hot Air Balloons of different classes. This was a first time any Hot Air Balloon record registration request was submitted to FAI.

Final flight On October 3, 2002, taking part in a ballooning event in the town of Zheleznovodsk (Russia), Victor Zagainov's balloon was involved in a mid-air collision between his balloon's envelope and a descending balloon's basket. Victor's envelope was torn open at a height of , initiating a very fast and uncontrolled descent. Despite his best efforts to keep the balloon inflated with continuous heating, the envelope caught fire, deflated and the balloon plunged to the ground.

On board with Victor, as the only passenger, was his best friend's and crew-member's 19-year-old daughter. Realizing that he could not stop or slow the balloon's descent, just before impact Victor lifted the girl in his arms and placed himself underneath her, thus acting as a living cushion on impact. Both occupants survived the crash and the girl was released from hospital after a routine check, with just a few scratches and concussion. Victor Zagainov succumbed to severe internal injuries two days later.