EDITOR

Advent of a flight instructor rating, cost and availability of balloon insurance, and where to hold the National Championship, all sound like issues that face ballooning today. Yet these were topics in the first three issues of Balloon Life ten years ago.

February 1996 marks the tenth anniversary of Balloon Life. The launch of the magazine culminated a plan conceived three years earlier. Ballooning was going through a phenomenal growth, yet there was a general dearth of information. That need, combined with new technology coined Desktop Publishing, allowed Balloon Life to begin bringing information about developing technology, regulations, business, and flying skills articles to the world of ballooning.

During the past ten years Balloon Life has published 1463 articles and interviews, 969 Preflight items, 346 Logbook reports, and more than 3,000 photographs. Our percentage of editorial content is higher than any other balloon magazine in the world and our calendar listings are unsurpassed.

From Balloon Life’s annual Balloon Buyer’s Guide to the monthly special reports our goal is to provide you with the latest information in ballooning. All of this is possible because of our dedicated readers like you and the strong support of our advertisers.

As an independent publication Balloon Life has not been afraid to research stories and people to bring a more complete picture. Balloon Life’s editors and contributors have presented a vast wealth of information. And, we will continue to do so. Sometimes the results of our stories have not pleased everyone.

Balloon Life received notoriety when in June, 1986 it was featured in a Time magazine article, Revolution of a Desktop. Our writers have received awards from Aviation and Space Writers Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and the Lidman Prize (for philatelic articles).

Not everyone has been happy with what has appeared in our pages. We have received nasty letters, been threatened with boycotts, and had advertisers withdraw their support. Through it all our loyalty is to you, our reader.

Balloon Life has worked with balloon insurers to help eliminate hold harmless agreements, sponsored safety seminars, produced weather briefing guides, developed and distributed free information on ballooning for the public, testified before government agencies on matters relating to ballooning, and help to marshal support for and against government regulations.

As Balloon Life embarks on another decade you have our promise to continue to present the best information that we can.

Around the World

Steve Fossett was first in the air this winter season to try and circumnavigate the globe. Several days and many problems latter he set down in New Foundland. Balloon Life interviewed Steve shortly after he return home from his attempt. Glen Moyer’s report,

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