Global Updates
Virgin Global Challenger: After more than a month of waiting in
Marrakech, Morocco, Richard Branson, Per Lindstrand, and Rory McCarthy have
returned home until next fall. There around-the-world attempt in a Lindstrand
built, Branson financed Roziere balloon has been delayed due to lack of
favorable weather.
In a press statement issued February 22, Richard Branson said: "Per, Rory and myself are desperately disappointed that the right weather conditions did not materialize for take off and flight in January or February." With everything ready to go for the last 10 weeks, the team now face a wait of some 8 months before they can try again. A team of over 100 people were assembled for this attempt together with support from dozens of companies both in the UK and overseas and a substantial control center set up at 1000, Great West Road, London. Where possible, these facilities will be kept in place for the challenge to be renewed this winter when a much longer launch window will be available to the project. In his statement, Richard Branson continued: "We would also like to thank the Moroccan government and people for being so understanding of our difficulties and we are glad they at least got the rain the country so desperately needed during the last few weeks! We would also like to thank the governments who gave us overflying rights and we will see them later this year." It is the intention that the project team will reassemble whenever suitable conditions for a launch and flight materialize between late October 1996 and mid-February 1997.
UNICEF Flyer: Henk Brink’s attempt to fly a Cameron built Roziere from Holland around-the-world also suffered from the same lack of favorable winds as the Virgin group. However, Brink’s plans were complicated when the third member of the flight crew left the team in late December (Balloon Life, January).
In February Henk Brink apparently went to the Dutch aviation authorities and expressed concerns over the airworthiness of his system. Reportedly Brink cited the condition of Steve Fossett’s balloon on landing in Canada as a concern. Don Cameron, who went to Holland and inspected Brink’s envelope, found that there had been approximately a 12 percent loss of adhesion of the second skin through aging. Cameron Balloons said in a statement that the strength could be easily fixed within 24 to 36 hours. Cameron Balloons also stated that the loss of adhesion in the second skin, which is for insulation, "has no affect on the airworthiness of the balloon."
Brink went on Dutch television laying the blame for his flight to have to be canceled for this winter on the envelope condition. There has been some speculation that Brink was using the envelope airworthiness as an excuse for not being able to launch this winter.
King’s Have It All
On December 15, 1995 with new free balloon ratings added to their pilot
certificates, aviation video instructors John and Martha King, San Diego,
California, became the first husband-and-wife team to each hold all of the
possible pilot category and class ratings. The Kings know hold all possible flight
instructor ratings.
The Kings learned to fly together over 25 years ago and shortly thereafter stared teaching ground schools as a fun thing to do while looking for a serious business. Several hundred thousand students and over 4 million hours of delivered video instruction later, the Kings are still pursuing their fun endeavor. They have, however, given up their search for a serious business.
"We are really hooked on anything that flies," says Martha, "and each class of aircraft has brought its own special pleasures." "Doing all of this learning and taking all of these check rides," says John, "has reminded us of the effort every pilot makes in learning to fly and in staying proficient."
Spirit of America
As a tribute to the men and women who fought in the Revolutionary War and
the signing of the Declaration of Independence the Spirit of America
balloon was unveiled to the nation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4,
1976-the 200th birthday of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The balloon was the dream of Christopher Brunner. Brunner, in ill health at
the time, began the work with a three month deadline. Working non-stop, he and
more than 50 volunteers hand painted an all white Raven balloon with four
murals depicting famous events, larger than life pictures of the heroes of the
war, and 12 cameo portraits that commemorated others who made major
contribution to the war.
Brunner’s poor health and eventual death lead to the balloon being stored in an old barn. Now, 20 years later the balloon is being displayed again. Col. and Mrs. L. A. Brunner have chosen Balloon Promotions, Inc. of Gloucester, Virginia to exhibit Spirit of America. The balloon is available for exhibit. For more information contact René Meier at (804) 694-5800.
Pin Request
Mike Wilson, Maumelle, Arkansas, is creating a balloon pin board to be given
as a memorial to the wife of the pilot who died in the balloon accident in
Oklahoma City in December. John Curtis, 46 of Edmond, Oklahoma and a
passenger were killed when their balloon contacted powerlines shortly after
takeoff.
Wilson is asking for members of the ballooning community from around the world to donation balloons pins. The pins will all be displayed in two large oak and glass frames.
Donation of balloon pins may be sent to: Mike Wilson, 9 Weatherwood Lane, Maumelle, AR 72113-6442.
NAA On-Line
The National Aeronautic Association has established a site on the World
Wide Web to provide information to the aviation community. The NAA’s
homepage can be reached at http://www.naa.ycg.org.
Those who wish to contact the NAA by email can do so at: naa@ids2.idsonline.com.
The NAA is the National Aero Club of the United States and is the U.S. representative to the Fédération Aéronautic Internationale. Among the NAA’s functions are to certify record attempts, lobby for aviation, and act as an umbrella organization for the sport aviation organization in the U.S. The NAA can be contacted through more traditional lines of communication at National Aeronautic Association, 185 N. Ft. Meyer Dr., Ste. 700, Arlington, VA 22209- 1805, phone (703) 527-0226, or fax (703) 527-0229.
ASRS On-Line
The National Aeronautic and Space Administration’s Aviation Safety
Reporting System has established a homepage on the World Wide Web. The
ASRS homepage can be reached at: http://www-
afo.arc.nasa.gov/ASRS/ASRS.html.
The Aviation Safety Reporting System was established to gather safety information regarding aviation matters that does not place the reporting individuals at risk for reporting the information. As an independent agency NASA makes recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration on ways to improve aviation safety.
The electronic information now available through ASRS web site including:
Program overview including the purpose, reporter immunity and confidentiality, report processing, the ASRS database, and ASRS program outputs; ASRS Database; Reporting forms for pilots and controllers that can be downloaded; Policy statements; ASRS publications such as Callback and Directline aviation safety newsletters.
International AIR-CD
International Air-CD announced its latest release of aircraft, owner, and pilot
information in electronic form. The Compact Disk contains information on aircraft
owner, pilot information, and aircraft performance information. All types of
aircraft are included from balloons to commercial jets.
The CD includes telephone and fax numbers along with the address corrections for U.S. and Canadian aircraft. The CD has complete owner lists for 78 countries worldwide and contains over 1.1 million records. The pilot data has been expanded to include phone numbers for over 70% of U.S. pilots.
International Air-CD claims that its Global Search features allows the user to quickly find specific types of aircraft using specific search parameters like make/model, serial number, year of manufacture, date purchased, registration number, address, city, owners name, and others.
Mailing labels can be printed and the data can be exported to other computer programs. The CD costs $189 for a singe copy or $149 for a quarterly update. At present the CD’s format is only available in a DOS/Windows format. A Mac version is expected to be released in the near future.
For more information contact Creaghan Harry at Hitech Aviation Marketing at (908) 530-2062, email: yjfr35a@prodigy.com, or visit the web site at: http://hitech.superlink.net
Olympic Airspace
The Federal Aviation Administration released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
for Airspace and Flight Operations Requirements for the 1996 Summer Olympic
Games, Atlanta, GA on December 29 (Docket Number 28420, Notice number
95-19). Although the comment period was short, 21 days, those who are
considering flying in the vicinity of any Olympic activity will want to obtain a copy
of the final rule when it is released. There many restrictions to the use of
airspace around and near Olympic venues.
For more information contact Janet Apple, Air Traffic Rules Branch, ATP-230, Airspace Rules and Aeronautical Information Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202 267-8783.
Experimental Balloon Meet
The 3rd Annual Experimental Balloon and Airship Meet is scheduled for May
17-19 at Post Mills Airport, Post Mills, Vermont. Hosted by Brian Boland, the
meet is an opportunity for anyone with an experimental, homebuilt, ultralight,
radio controlled or model balloon or airship, or interest in such, to gather. The
only restriction is that no type certificated balloons are to show
up.
The meet provides attendees the chance to show and tell, exchange ideas, insights and information.
For more information contact Brian Boland, Experimental Balloon and Airship Association, P.O. Box 51, Post Mills, VT 05058.
Five Years Ago
Ten Years Ago
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