World Balloon Corporation
World Balloon Corporation is now operating under the new ownership of
partners Russ and Carolyn Grantham and Elizabeth Wright-Smith. The sale of
the Albuquerque-based corporation was effective March 1.
The firm, founded 26 years ago by Sid Cutter, incorporates a Federal
Aviation Administration 141 Ground School, An FAA repair station,
commercial balloon programs, and balloon sales and rides. Cutter is
retiring but will be retained by the new owners as a consultant and
representative of World Balloon Corporation.
"We are excited about this opportunity and plan to make this outstanding company even bigger," Elizabeth Wright-Smith told Balloon Life. "We plan to reopen the repair station March 17 and look to expand the corporation programs and divisions." Russ Grantham explained that the Granthams" current firm, Mesilla Valley Balloon Adventures, will be merged with the new corporation. Current MVBA corporate programs include such clients as Conoco, GTE Mobilnet and Sonic Drive-Ins.
Wright-Smith has been with WBC ten years, serving as Director of Operations since 1991. She has been involved in ballooning since the mid-1960s and licensed since 1978. Wright-Smith is a Balloon Federation of America master flight instructor and an FAA certified repair person. She is Level 8 BFA Pilot Achievement Award Program participant and has been a member of the BFA Board of Directors since 1992.
The Granthams, both commercial balloon pilots, have a long association with hot air ballooning with experience in promotional flights, special shapes and flight instruction. Since starting MVBA in 1993 they have specialized in corporation promotions and advertising and look forward to the opportunity for growth this merger will afford.
"We"re extremely pleased that Sid will remain with World Balloon as a consultant," Grantham told Balloon Life. "His expertise is most valuable as we begin this new venture." Cutter is well-known in hot air ballooning. He organized and produced the first five Albuquerque International Balloon Fiestas and organized and underwrote the first to World Hot Air Balloon Championships. Our customers can be assured of continued quality service during this transition."
For more information contact World Balloon Corp., 4800 Eubank NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. (505) 293-6800.
Sky Balloons (US)
Following the successful completion of all testing and certification
procedures for Sky Balloons by the Federal Aviation Administration
resulting in full U.S. Type Certification, the company is now establishing
a presence in the U.S., the largest balloon market in the world.
Sky Balloons (U.S.) Inc. has been formed, operating from 10,000 square feet of premises close to the international airport at Orlando, Florida. The president is Mark Roberson and the National Sales Director is Bill Whidden. AirSports International, Inc., in Florida will handle distribution of Sky products to the whole of the U.S. and Central America.
Mark is a commercial balloonist of many years experience, a Flight Examiner, a Regional Safety Officer, a fixed-wing pilot and a Director of AirSports International, Inc., a long-established manufacture of balloon and airship banners, cold-air inflatables and a range of associated products.
The Sky Balloons available in the States will include envelopes from 31,000 to 320,000 cubic feet, all burner configurations, special shape envelopes, 14 different basket sizes including single and double T"s, stainless fuel cylinders, etc. Initially most of the manufacturing will be undertaken at the company"s factory in North Wales, but there will be a progressive shift to part assembly in Florida.
The main thrust of the company"s marketing policy will be emphasizing their exceptional quality. The products are made to the highest of standards, with no compromises, and use only the finest materials available. For example, all envelope fabrics are supplied by Carringtons Ltd. of England, being their finest purpose made, multi-coated ripstop nylon, and every batch coming with a Certificate of Conformity to the standard demanded.
The total U.S. market approximates 300 balloons per annum, the bulk being lightweight sport systems. Passenger-carrying and advertising balloon markets both show considerable growth potential and are the sector in which Sky expects to concentrate initially.
Rosie O"Grady"s Flying Circus, probably the most famous passenger-carrying balloon operation in the world, has already ordered four replacement Sky systems for its fleet for delivery between now and the end of the year. Sky demonstrator balloons will be touring the States from May onwards, including attendance at some of the major meets.
For more information, contact Mark Roberson at AirSports International, 1-800-320-8087, or Bill Whidden at AirSports or at (407) 870-0031.
Schantz & Urbine Insurance
The Schantz Agency of Jacksonville, Florida and the Urbine Balloon Agency
of Greensboro, North Carolina announced a joint venture to provide lower
rates, more discounts, and quality service to the hot air ballooning
community.
Both agencies represent an AM Best "A" rated, domestic insurance company that offers the standard discounts, along with new substantial discounts for Balloon Federation of America members, and participants in the BFA Pilot Achievement Program.
In order to assist the sport balloonist that has an occasional paid ride, their Pleasure and Sport rate now includes up to ten percent commercial. In addition to standard hot air balloon policies, they also offer event insurance.
For more information, contact The Schantz Agency at (904) 223-4329; or the Urbine Balloon Agency at (910) 665-1006.
Experimental Meet & Museum
The 4th Experimental Balloon and Airship Meet will take place May 16-18 at
the Post Mills, Vermont airport. Among the activities planned for the
Experimental meet is the completion of a 28,000 cubic foot, one place
balloon in a day and a half workshop. The construction will begin on Friday
and it is planned that the maiden flight will be made during the Saturday
afternoon flight slot.
The big exciting news this year is the completion of the 15,000 square feet Experimental Balloon and Airship Museum. This all new "purpose built" two floor Museum is attached and runs south of the shop and main building. The initial collection of 50 balloons, airships, over 20 special interest vehicles and tons of other strange collectabilla will be moved into the facility beginning June 1. The planned opening to the public is scheduled for July 4.
Brian Boland, mastermind behind the air meet and museum, told Balloon Life, "The theme for the Museum is 'Just Imagine.""
For more information, contact Brian Boland, PO Box 51 Post Mills, VT 05058. (802) 333-9254, phone or fax.
FAI
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale"s Ballooning Commission (CIA),
under the leadership of President Jacques Soukup, held its annual meeting
in Istanbul, Turkey in early March.
The Records Review Subcommittee proposed changes to the Sporting Code, Section 1, concerning around-the-world balloon records. This proposal was a radical change in policy for the CIA, and determines the around-the-world flight to be accomplished when the aerostat crosses both a start and finish line, rather than from take-off to landing. Also, passengers may evacuate the balloon at any time for all records, except for altitude flights.
After a sometimes emotional discussion, the following motion was passed unanimously by the Plenary Session of the CIA. "The CIA expresses extreme dissatisfaction with the progress of investigation into the death of Alan Fraenckel and John Stuart-Jervis, and request that the FAI continue all efforts to pursue the following: 1. A Belarus government apology, unqualified by justification, is given acknowledging that the murder of teh Gordon Bennett pilots was wrong; 2. An assurance is obtained from the Belarus military that steps have been taken to render a repetition unlikely; 3. Any relatives" compensation claims have been correctly settled."
The Montgolfier Diploma for contributions to the development of the sport of ballooning was awarded to Hans Akerstedt (Sweden), the Santos-Dumont Gold Airship Medal to Thomas Sage (Great Britain) and an FAI Air Sports Medal to Barbara Butler (Virgin Islands) for her assistance to the organization.
In the CIA elections, Jacques Soukup (Virgin Islands) was re-elected President, Hans Akerstedt 1st Vice President, Darryl Stuart (Australia) 2nd Vice President, Mathijs DeBruign 3rd Vice President and Neil Robertson (Great Britain) Secretary.
US Nationals
The Missouri Balloon Corporation has announced that the "Wake-Up to
Missouri US National Hot Air Balloon Championship" realized a net profit of
approximately $7500 from its 1996 operations. The figure represents total
receipts of $1,259,000.
This year"s event will be held August 8 through the 16. For more information contact, Missouri Balloon Corporation, PO Box 1305, Columbia, MO 65205. (573) 445-1445.
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration has canceled Advisory Circular 61-116,
Flight Instructor-Lighter-than-Air (Balloon-Airship) Practical Test
Standards, dated March 10, 1995. In canceling the AC the FAA cited the
numerous comments against an instructor rating that were received during
the comment period for Notice of Proposed Rule Making 95-11.
Fossett named to Hall of Fame
Steve Fossett, who recently flew nearly half way around the world in a
Roziere (combination gas and hot air) balloon, was named to the
International Balloon & Airship Hall of Fame for 1997, housed at the Soukup
& Thomas International Balloon & Airship Museum in Mitchell, South
Dakota.
Steve Fossett will hold the Absolute World Distance Record and Absolute World Duration Record in balloons, with a distance of 16,673.81 kilometers and 6 days, 2 hours and 50 minutes flying time. He also broke his own Absolute Distance Record which he had set when he was the first person to fly solo in a balloon across the Pacific Ocean in 1995.
Quite the adventurer, Steve Fossett has also sailed solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and is known for his auto racing, running Triathlons, dog sled racing and he even swam the English Channel (21 miles) and both ways in the Turkish Dardanelles.
Steve Fossett will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the annual Corn Palace Balloon Rally Awards Banquet on Sunday, June 22, 1997 in Mitchell where he will make a short speech.