May 2000
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
published monthly by Balloon Life
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MAGAZINE
May 2000
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Don Caplan, John Cavin
Bruce Comstock, Glen Moyer
Grant McDuling, Pat Murphy
Rick Tilburg, Greg & Edna Thompson
Marc Van Dis
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e-mail: tom@balloonlife.com
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Phone: 206-935-3649
In February KevinUliassi launchedfrom a rockquarry near Rockford, Illinois in
a quest to pilot a balloon around-the-world solo. In MarchBalloon Life briefly report on
Kevin’s flight, promising a report in the April issue. After interviewing Kevin, I realized
that his team’s effort made for a much larger report. The decision was made to hold off
our coverage in order to provide a more in-depth review.
You may have followed the flight onthe Internet as it unfolded or read newspaper
and magazine accounts. For ten days Kevin held ballooning’s, and the world’s, attention
as he dodged thunderstorms, crawledacross an ocean,playedthe politicalpermission
game, and sped along reaching for the gold ring. Behind that story lies a world that few
see, a world of dedicatedpeople working as a harmoniousteam, giving unselfishlyto
help a friend.
Balloon Life’sSpecial Report this month goes behind the scene to discover what a
flight of this magnitude it is really like. We begin our report withWeathering the Storm,
a lookatthe planning, preparation, and executionof a verycomplexflight plan. Glen
Moyer interviewedLou Billones, WindsongServices,Inc., who’steamprovided the
meteorological information for Kevin. Learnwhatit takes tofindtheweather for the
flight of a lifetime.
To accomplish a solo flight the pilot needs some help. For Kevin, that help game in
a small black boxcalled an autopilot. Bruce Comstockhas spend 20years developing
andprogrammingsuch a device for longdistance ballooning. Intalkingwith Kevin it
beganquite clear thathe consideredthe ComstockAutopilot amusthave itemfor an
extreme flight. Bruce Comstock is an engineer, balloon builder, pilot, and record setter.
GlenMoyerspokewithhimabout the developmentof the autopilotandpresentshis
findings inBallooning’s Black Box.
Finally,Balloon Lifetalked with Kevin about his team, flight, and dream. You will
go inside the capsule with Kevin to see what life islike athighaltitude in a very small
space. Kevin talks about his triumphs, disappointments, and failures. Relive the joys and
struggles he enduredduring histen day odysseyin theFlight of the J. Renee.
Trophy
InMarchBrianJones representedtheBreitlingOrbiter 3teamata ceremonyin
Albuquerque to accept the Harmon Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association.
I hadthe pleasure of servingonthe committee thatselected the Breitling team for the
award for their extraordinary flight a year ago. The honor not only named the two pilots,
but also named the two meteorologists, Pierre Eckert and Luc Trullenmann. I suggested
that they benamedalongwith the pilots,andwith the support of MarkSullivan, was
successful inprevailing onthe committee toinclude them. On anyflightaround-the-
world the metteam isflying the balloon as muchasthe pilots.
Following the presentation in Albuquerque Brian and his wife flew to Seattle where
Balloon Life hosted a reception in theirhonor.Balloon Life asked Brian if Budweiser had
paid the million dollarprize. “Not until last autumn when Bertrand threatened to take the
non-payment to the press did they finally pay the award.” Brian is pleased to report that
the money is now earninginterest and will be used for charitable purposes.
