Balloon Federation of America

The Balloon Federation of America held its annual general meeting in October during the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The organization presented the Shields-Trauger Award, its highest honor, to Balloon Life contributing editor and staff photographer Ron Behrmann for his many years of contributions to the organization's publications and ballooning.

During the meeting the drawing for a new balloon, donated by Aerostar International, was held. Shelia Kuler, North Las Vegas, Nevada won the balloon. It was announced that a new trailer has been donated by Wells Cargo for the next promotional giveaway.

Three newly elected members joined the board (Balloon Life, Preflight, September, 1997). Rob Schantz was elected President, Glen Moyer Vice President, Allen Yost, Treasurer, and Jim Thompson, Secretary.

The BFA also held a meeting for balloon clubs during Fiesta. Wally Miller, Executive Director, discussed some upcoming plans. He announced that MBNA, the credit card company, will be announcing a new credit card offering that will have the card holder's balloon picture on the face of the card. It was requested that balloon clubs send their membership lists to the BFA so that a one time mailing offering the new credit card can be sent.

Miller also proposed that beginning December 1 if 60 percent of a balloon club's members belong to the BFA then members in that club will have their BFA dues reduced by $5.

A third proposal presented to the clubs was the idea of a "Balloon Club of the Year." Details have yet to be formalized for this award.

Additional announcements included a youth scholarship program that will be started. The program has received an initial contribution of $1,800. The BFA plans on setting up an information resource that can be downloaded from the Internet by schools and other interested parties. Plans are also being made for a new crew program shoulder patch.

For more information contact the Balloon Federation of America, PO Box 400 Indianola, IA 50125 or call 515-961-8809.

Gas Balloon Accident

On Saturday, October 18, a gas balloon exploded while in flight. The balloon was one was 14 participating in the Linde-Cup held in Bitterfeld, Germany. The accident took place about 20 miles northeast of Berlin five hours after launch.

When the 1000 cubic meter netted balloon exploded the basket fell 400-500 meters to the ground killing the pilot and three passengers. The envelope was filled with hydrogen. What caused the gas to explode is unknown and an investigation is being conducted. This is the first time in modern gas ballooning that such an explosion while in flight has occurred.

Weather conditions were reported to be excellent at the time of the accident. The balloon reportedly was climbing to clear a transmission tower and then planned to make an approach to landing.

Ms. Wollenkoetter was the pilot and she was accompanied on the flight by her husband and two guests. The couple have left behind two children and the national German balloon association is organizing an appeal for funds for the children. For information on how and where to make donations contact. Deutscher Freiballon-Sportverband e.V., z.Hd. Herrn Walter Mueller, Huyssenallee 87, D-46128 Essen - Germany

FAI News

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale will celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the world's first national aeronautical organization, the Aero Club of France, in 1998. The FAI has declared 1998 the "Year of Aviation and Space,"

Each country will celebrate 100 years of sporting and recreational aviation in its own way. The FAI's own celebration will be centered on its General Conference, to held in Toulouse, France. The Conference will include a symposium on topics of interest to people across the whole spectrum of aviation and space activity.

Bubbles with Altitude

Champagne Mercier has a wonderful history of aviation and hot air ballooning. In 1900 the companies founder, Eugene Mercier, tethered a balloon in the Champ de Mars to publicize his champagne. Champagne Mercier still operates a hot air balloon today, almost a century later.

On September 10, at Ross-on-Wye, England, the Bubbles project set an altitude record using `toy' balloons filled with helium. The balloons (the bubbles) each with a fully inflated diameter of two feet, were inflated and attached, by means of a harness, to the `pilot' Ian Ashpole. Over 400 balloons were required to provide enough lift to carry Ian, and his related equipment, to 10,000 feet.

For safety purposes Ian was attached by a line to the Champagne Mercier hot air balloon. Once at 10,000 feet Ian detached himself from the hot air balloon and then dramatically cut away from bubbles before free falling and parachuting to safety.