In 1974 Will Hays, in cooperation with the FAA, held a balloon seminar in California.
The purpose of the seminar was to discuss regulations and procedures regarding
balloon flying skills. Held in Southern California balloonists and FAA personal from
around the country attended. Using a blimp hangar, participants were able to fly
indoors.
Numerous individuals contributed written information to the seminar. One outcome of the seminar and these written materials was the Balloon Digest. In the absence of definitive material on techniques and procedures of hot air ballooning, it filled the need for information valuable to both the neophyte and the high-time pilot.
Although the original Digest was not intended as a training manual, it evolved into such. By 1980 it had become the "Bible" for balloonists to study and learn by. It was developed by balloonists for balloonists and for the advancement of ballooning.
In the early 80s, with record numbers of new balloons being manufactured and LTA licenses being issued, Balloon Digest had become long in the tooth as a training manual. The need for more technical information spawned such publications as Taming the Gentle Giants, BFA Flight Instructors Manual, and the Flight Training Guide. None the less, Balloon Digest continued to be a popular publication.
With the slowing of new balloon enthusiasts came the slowing of balloon book sales. Taming the Gentle Giant ceased publication when its book publisher didn’t feel it financially feasible to update and reprint the book. So too, Hays saw the sales of his book dwindle.
In 1994 Hays donated his rights to the book and the remaining copies that he had in inventory to the Balloon Federation of America. The BFA accepted the donation and assigned its Ballooning Journal editor, Ruth Ludwig, with the task of revamping the book.
Her goal was to remain true to the original spirit in which Will Hays had created Balloon Digest: to provide a true "digest" of ballooning material, for the new enthusiast exploring ballooning, the student working on a research project, the seasoned pilot looking for reference material, the student preparing for a written examination, or the instructor seeking depth for the ballooning curriculum.
To that end, a dozen writers have contributed a wealth of information. From the history of the sport to the principles and practices of balloon flight, these authors give a well rounded view of modern hot air ballooning. Also included within the covers of the digest are a sample flight training syllabus, some written test questions, and Federal Aviation Regulations.
Whether reading the material in the digest for the first time or using it as a refresher all who enjoy the sport of ballooning will be able to benefit from the well written articles.
The Digest was not meant to be a comprehensive guide. However, its one weakness is that it tries to cover too much. Over half of the book is dedicated to Federal Aviation Regulations. While the articles are timeless the FARs are not. It would have been better to have printed them on less expensive paper, in a smaller format, and attached as a supplement or even sold separately for a nominal cost (FARs are available for free through on-line services and the World Wide Web). Their inclusion and that of the flight training syllabus, which is redundant to the Flight Training Manual, adds cost. At $30 it makes the book a little pricey. A smaller book in the $15-20 range I believe would sell better. Because of the cost I believe that the BFA may miss a marketing opportunity at balloon events where this source of general balloon information can be sold to the general public.
This latest edition of the Balloon Digest is a rework of the old book. As a resource of general ballooning information it fills a void in the currently available balloon book category.
Balloon Digest, 154 pages, cost $30 plus $6 s/h, order from BFA Bookstore, P.O. Box 400, Indianola, IA 50125. For the collector the BFA is offering a limited edition of 30 copies of the book signed by every contributor to the book for $100.
Balloon Digest and other ballooning publications can also be purchased on-line through Aero.com's On-Line Aviation Books Catalog.
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