Dymocks Flyer
A joint American-Australian group that will attempt the first
circumnavigation of the earth by balloon later this year is renaming its
giant craft. Effective immediately, the "Dymocks Odyssey" will now be known
as the "Dymocks Flyer" (see the new website at http://www.dymocksflyer.com).
Expedition President Bob Martin told Balloon Life the request was made by the project's title sponsor, Dymocks Booksellers of Sydney, Australia. Martin says the team agreed to the change because so many aspects of the project have changed since its conception, and a fresh identity was appropriate. For example, the expedition was originally planned to depart from New Mexico and launch has been moved to Alice Springs, Australia. Most flight activities will take place in Australia instead of the US. In addition, the crew has been changed from all-American to a joint US-Australian crew.
"The new name also has very special meaning for the team," says Martin. "Australian pilot John Wallington of the new 'Dymocks Flyer' also piloted the 'Australian Geographic Flyer' in the first successful balloon journey across Australia. So, I know the name will bring us good fortune."
The Dymocks Flyer is a non-profit attempt to conduct the first manned balloon flight around the world in history. Although three other teams are competing against the Dymocks Flyer, the Australian flight is the only one using proven NASA balloon technology to fly on the very edge of outer space. The Dymocks Flyer team will launch its manned balloon into the stratosphere from Alice Springs, Australia in late December of 1997 or early January of 1998. The global journey is expected to take 20 days. The team would also set a new world altitude record by flying 24 miles (39 kilometers) above the earth.
Scientific instruments from a variety of institutions will be carried on board to study upward-bursting lightning from thunderstorms, cosmic rays, stratospheric balloon performance and crew performance in a confined space. Gondola work is being done at facilities provided by the US Air Force's primary space research lab, Phillips Laboratory in Albuquerque.
The cost of the Dymocks Flyer expedition is 1.9 million dollars. The majority of cash support is being provided by the title sponsor, Dymocks Booksellers of Australia. Other sponsors include the US Air Force Phillips Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, NASA Johnson Space Center, National Geographic Magazine, W.J. Schafer Associates, Simula Inc., Sandia National Labs and many others.
The Dymocks Flyer launch window at Alice Springs opens December 28, 1997. Dymocks Booksellers is Australia's oldest national bookstore chain with 93 outlets in 2 countries.
For information contact Bob Martin, Dymocks Flyer Headquarters (505) 767-9406 or Tony Aduckiewicz, Dymocks Booksellers +(61)-2-224-0411 (*Mountain Standard Time + 17hrs).
Smart Vent
Phil Kavanagh, award winning Australian designer, manufacturer and pilot of
hot air balloons has received notification through his Patent Attorney, of
the granting of a U.S. Patent on his innovative deflation system for hot
air balloons. "Smart Vent" which is a trademark of Kavanagh Balloons, was
first published in March 1994 and the U.S. Patent was issued on December
17, 1996.
Smart Vent is a deflation system that can be used in all sizes of hot air balloons and is now widely used in sport and commercial passenger carrying balloons. An agreement to manufacture the system under license has already been signed by the Cameron Balloons, Bristol, England. Don Cameron has been quoted as saying that, "to the balloon world, Smart Vent really is the greatest thing since sliced bread."
In March 1996 Phil Kavanagh won the AAUP Australian Safety Excellence Award, Sport Aviation Category, for his contribution to the sport of hot air ballooning.
For more information contact Kavanagh Balloons, 10 Marina Close, Mount
Kuring-Gai NSW 2080, Australia. http://www.hutch.com.au/~seank/.<
p>
Cameron Balloons US
The Cameron U.S. factory recently underwent its 24 month FAA ACSEP
evaluation (Aircraft Certifications Systems Evaluation Program). On all
counts - including Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Service Product
Support, and Management - Cameron attained a perfect score with no findings
or recommendations. This is the second time in a row that Cameron U.S. has
scored a perfect standing with the FAA since 1994.
Lorne Whittles, Business Manager of Cameron U.S. indicated that this is possible owing to the expertise resident in people like Dawn Kress (Production Manager) and Dave Moody (Engineering Manager), who have nearly 25 years of combined balloon manufacturing experience at Cameron. Moreover, it is "largely owed to a production team that has an average of more than 8 years experience per team member - low turnover ensures higher levels of quality due to people who know their job very, very well." "We're very proud of our production team, and view the FAA's findings as an endorsement of the high standards team members work daily to achieve at Cameron"
The most spectacular special shape ever built has been created by Cameron
Balloons - a flying Scottish piper in full Highland Dress.
Standing 165 feet in height, the piper produced numerous challenges for the highly experienced Cameron design team. Not only was it necessary to build a realistic human shape, there was the extra problem of incorporating a complicated musical instrument - the bagpipes - and adding accurate artwork detail to the jacket.
However, the biggest challenge was reproducing the famous Scottish Red Fraser tartan. Although the kilt worn by the piper had to be built from Cameron's exclusive mold-resistant Duraflight balloon fabric, it was impractical to paint, or cut and sew, the complicated design using standard fabric colors. Instead, 2,200 yards of rip-stop nylon was specially printed with the tartan image using Cameron's new inkjet technology. During the cutting process, all panels had to be matched together to ensure pattern continuity.
The piper, which incorporates an electronic sound system to reproduce the "skirl" of the pipers, was ordered by Scotsman Muir Moffat, an experienced pilot and marketing chief of Unipart - sponsors of the Bristol and Chateau d'Oex balloon fiestas.
Cameron Balloons U.S. has scheduled Friday, April 11th and Saturday April 12th for its upcoming two-day Maintenance Seminar in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Expected attendees will include local FAA officials and repair station personnel from around the country. All interested participants should contact Dave Moody, Engineering Manager, at 313-426-5525 for details and sign-up. Space is limited.
Cameron Balloons U.S.' latest revision of the Instructions For Continued Airworthiness (Maintenance Manual) is due for release this month. The 1997 update includes all new product innovations to envelope, instrument, basket and burner systems. Contact Cameron Balloons U.S. at 313-426-5525 or via E-mail at hotline@cameronballoons.com.
AIBF
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta announced the resignation of
Sam Hancock, Executive Director, effective December 18, 1996. In accepting
Hancock's resignation, Mark Sullivan, Board President, stated "Sam Hancock
brought fresh new ideas to this organization this year. We wish him well in
his pursuit of new endeavors."
On January 3, 1997 Sullivan announced that Paul R. Smith, Esq. has been selected as the Executive Director and General Counsel for AIBF.
Smith brings to Fiesta fifteen years of ballooning experience as pilot and organizer of numerous events. He has received recognition from the Balloon Federation of America and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale for his contributions to ballooning. Sullivan said, "His legal expertise and managerial skills will add to the smooth transition to a more professional event." He has served the Fiesta for a number of years as Legal Counsel and was the Assistant Balloonmeister for the '96 event.
For more information about AIBF visit their web site at http://www.aibf.org
Kestrel Pocket Wind Meter
For sports enthusiasts, hobbyists, weather buffs, technicians or
scientists, a new hand-held anemometer less than 5 inches long and weighing
only 1.5 oz. delivers the accuracy of instruments many times its size,
weight and cost.
Using the Kestrel Wind Meter is a simple matter of slipping off the protective case, pointing it into the wind, and reading the wind speed on the digital display in the user's choice of knots, miles per hour, kilometers per hour, meters per second or feet per minute. With the push of a single button, maximum and average wind speeds can also be displayed.
Priced at $89, the Kestrel wind meter is being marketed to sailors, power boaters, general aviation pilots, sky divers, balloonists, HVAC technicians, remote control airplane hobbyists, kite flyers, farmers, foresters, golfers, archers, and numerous other groups with a need for portable, accurate wind speed measuring capability.
The Kestrel's precision engineered anodized aluminum impeller allows it to register almost imperceptible breezes (0.6 knots), yet measure gale force winds (up to 78 knots) with an accuracy of 3% or better. This impeller is shock-mounted in a sturdy fiberglass housing, but if it should become damaged, it can be replaced simply and inexpensively by the user without tools.
The Kestrel wind meter floats and is completely waterproof. It comes supplied with a lanyard and a high-visibility slate blue slip case. It operates on a single common watch battery and is fully guaranteed for one year.
The Kestrel Pocket Wind Meter is available at national retail and catalog outlets including West Marine and Thomas Scientific. For more information, contact Nielsen-Kellerman at (800) 784 4221 or visit http://www.nkelectronics.com /kestrel.htm on the Internet.
FAA News
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced the distribution of new
releases via Internet electronic mail to users who subscribe to this
service. All FAA national news releases, fact sheets and media advisories
will be automatically transmitted to the subscriber via e-mail. These
electronic mailings will ensure that the news media and others interested
in aviation issues receive all releases as quickly as possible.
To subscribe to the FAA's national news release service, address an e-mail
to:
listserv@listserv.faa.gov
In the body of the message type: subscribe faa-newsrelease Your Name.
To take your name of the mailing list send another message to the same address with a message in the body: signoff faa-newsrelease Your Name.
Gift Certificates
For commercial balloon ride operators gift certificates have been a staple
of their business. These certificates usually carry an expiration date,
often one year after date of issue.
As of January 1, 1997 California law has changed the rules of the game for balloonists and other parties who sell gift certificates. Sponsored by Assembly Woman Jan Goldsmith, AB 2466 now prohibits the sale by any person or entity a gift certificate containing an expiration date. The bill also provides for redemption in cash or replacement of a gift certificate sold after January 1, 1997. The bill does not apply to gift certificates distributed to a consumer for promotional purposes without any money or other thing of value being given in exchange for the gift certificate.
California commercial balloonists are now consulting with their attorneys and investigating other types of "pre-paid" flight certificates which can still legally contain anexpiration date.
