3

Balloon Life,February 2000

February2000
Volume 15, Number 2

Checklist

The Magazine For Hot Air Ballooning

Features

4

Editor

6

Preflight
NewsandInformation

10

Calendar

30

Balloon Life Marketplace
Products andServices for sale

26

Repair Station
Record Retention and Recovery,
or “Backup—What Backup???”

38

Hangar Flying
withGeorge Denniston
When You Least Expect It

Cover Photo:
Balloonsflying in
Red RockState
Park, Gallup, New
Mexico.
Photo: Jim Dorsey

Special Report:
The First ModernHot Air BalloonFatality

14

The1964CatalinaChannel Balloon Race
The recently formedCalifornia BalloonClubhosted a FédérationAéronau-
tique Internationale sanctioned balloonrace to highlight the new sport of
modern hot air ballooning. Areal race, fastest time wins, from Catalina Island
tothe California mainland. Only one pilot, Ed Yost, wouldreachdry land.
Weather delays and mounting pressure to get the event off lead to a flight in less
than perfect conditions. Robert Shaw, who investigatedthe accident andfirst
modern hot air ballooning fatality, recounts his investigation of that tragic day
36 yearsago.
14Race Entrants

20

Gallup—One More Time
When the winds are right, this is one of the most
beautifulplaces in the worldto flya balloon.

24

Breckenridge ContinentalDivide Hot Air Balloon Challenge
Balloon Life photographer and contributing editor Ron Behrmann makes his
way back to this high altitude winter balloon rally. If 14 balloons can cross the
continental divide at the same time the Guiness Book ofRecords will recognize
the flight.

33

StateofBallooning
Balloon Life’s review of ballooningin the U.S.:
33Idaho
35Rhode Island