March 2000
asthe“WindyCity”maynotofferthe
greatest prospect for ballooning. But sev-
eral dozenactive balloonists call Illinois
home and enjoy their share of calm winds
too.
With an average wind speed of about
10mph,Chicagoisactuallylesswindy
than Amarillo, Boston and Cheyenne. Its
nickname comes from a reference to po-
litical hot air, not just the weather.
Illinoisishometothreeactivebal-
loonclubs andtwoballoonmanufactur-
ers.LindstrandBalloonshasmanufac-
turedballoonsnearGalenasince1995.
And Eagle Balloons, basednorth of Chi-
cago, has manufactured 25 balloons since
1997.
AquarrynearRockfordiswhere
KevinUliassiattemptedsolo,non-stop
globalballoonflightsonDecember31,
1997 and February22, 2000.
Withtheexceptionof smallhillsin
the west, most of the state, nicknamed the
PrairieState,isflat.Pilotswantingto
cross the Mississippi River—about a mile
wideon average—should maintain at least
2,000feetbecauseitisdesignatedasa
wildlife habitat.
So good is the flying in the heartland,
theweather wasone reasonIllinoiswas
chosentohosttheNationalhot-airbal-
loonchampionshipsinRantoul,outside
Champaign, from1998 through2002.
“It’sarelativelyflatfarmingcom-
munity,”saidBillBird,championship
director.“Thecropsareprimarilycorn
andbeans.”
Some 125 balloonists attend the six-
dayevent;75of thenviefor thetitle of
national champion. Prize money in1999
totaled$60,000andwasdividedamong
the first 60 places.
Thereare a fewlocal balloon pilots in
the area, but half of the observers needed
for the eventcome from the area, which
welcomestheballoonseachyearata
former Air Force base.
Anotherlargeannualrallyisheld
eachyearinDanville.TheOldsmobile
BalloonClassicboastsmorethan100
balloons,mo rethan$25,000inprize
money and more than 100,000 spectators
the weather is good.
“We’vetriedtocreatea festivalat-
mosphere aroundthe balloons,” saidor-
ganizer RonCrick. “That has enabledus
toget some of the major sponsors.” The
rally began in 1987 when the airport man-
ager wanted to hold an event at the airport.
Each year, organizers try to incorporate a
unique event, including dawn patrol com-
petition,awomen’spilotcompetition,
andthisyear a tenballoon gas event.
One competition pairs the pilotswho
scorethebestwiththosewhoscorethe
worstinthefirsttask.Theirpointsare
combined for the duration of the weekend.
Andoneyear,morethanadozen
beautifulballoonspaintedby Minnesota
artistCharlieMarkertwerebroughtto-
getherandinflated.“Wecalleditanart
show in the sky,” Crick said.
Cricksaidthe budgetfortheevent
tops$300,000.Admissionisfree,but
spectatorsarechargedtopark.Other
money is raised through sponsorships and
concessions.
Profitsare putbackintolocalcom-
munitiesthroughagrantprocess.More
than$170,000hasbeendonatedtonu-
merouscharities, includinglibraries and
for playgroundequipment, Cricksaid.
“This isthe 14thyear for usandwe
don’thavearedzone,”saidHerb
Schmidt,balloonmeisterfortheevent.
Otherthantheballoons,spectatorsare
treated to a fireworks show, bands, a car-
nival, and the world’s largest sandcastle
buildingcompetitionrighton the airport
runway.
Organizers takecare ofballoon crews
aswell .Eachp ilotisgi venan ew
Oldsmobile courtesycar to drive for the
weekend.
“Wealwaysturndownabunchof
pilots,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt alsois balloonmeister for a
rally in Lisle, which he says is the second-
largest attended festival of any kind in the
state,with250,000spectatorsoverthe
Fourthof July weekend. Only Chicago’s
Waterfront Festival is larger, he said.
Nearly50balloonsflyinCentralia
and compete for $12,500in prizes plus a
keygrab.Theballoonsare inflatedina
parkamongartsandcraftbooths.The
intimate setting and the involvement from
whatseemslike the entire communityis
similartowhatmostballoonrallieshad
20 yearsago.Many porches and treesin
town sportdecorative balloons.
Whennotcompeting,pilotsinIlli-
nois,likeeverywhereelse,enjoyflying
for funon the weekend.
Pilot Russ Hardyestimates there are
probably40activeballoonpilotsinthe
Chicago area. Dueto the congestion ofthe
city, commercialair traffic inandout of
one ofthe busiestairportsintheworld,
plus the proximity to Lake Michigan,most
flyingisdoneatleast25milesoutof
town, he said.
“Another ten miles beyond that is all
farmland,” he said.
Naperville and Plainfield are popular
ballooning communities for Chicago-area
pilots. Bob Gaidzik, who has beenflying
balloons since 1983, sayspilots find safe
landings in school fields, parks and indus-
trial complexes.
“Thesuburbanizationofourflying
areahasactuallyincreasedourlanding
areas,” saidGaidzik,wholivesinCary,
about45milesnorthwestofChicago.
“There are a lot of houses withone- and
two-acre lots still undeveloped.”
Ballooning
