June2000
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
published monthly by Balloon Life
Magazine, Inc., 2336 47th Ave SW,
Seattle, WA 98116-2331
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MAGAZINE
June 2000
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose,
Alan Sanderson, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Bill Bird, James Cornett, Hal Greve
John Gunderson, JudyHolt, Ron Irvin
Phil Macnutt, Jeff Orlowski, Debbie
Romero, Jim Sabo, KathySmith
2336 47th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 9811 6
Fax: 206-935-3326
e-mail: tom@balloonlife.com
Internet: http://balloonlife.com/
Phone: 206-935-3649
AlongtimeagoIdevelopedmycenterofthebaskettheory.The
highertheballoonrises,theclosertothecenterofthebasketallthe
occupants get. Most balloon flights are conducted well below 3,000 AGL.
Imagineflyingmorethantentimesashigh.InBalloon Life’s Special
ReportPhil Macnutt ofAustin,Texastakes youwithhim asheplansa
flightto35,000feet inahomebuilt balloon.
Goingtothisex -
treme requires morethan
jus t“stay in gonthe
burner.” Aflight ofthis
magnituderequires plan-
ninginmanydifferent
areas: clothingandtem-
perature; team members
andresponsibilities;al-
titude chamber training;
ph ysio log ycon sider -
atio ns ;o xy g enan d
equipment; and airspace
coordination,afterall,
youdon’twantasix-
hundredmilesperhour
jetusingyouasanose
ornament.
While the challenge is to get up there, the real thrill is in the ride down.
Descent rates exceed 1500 feet per minute, the basket swings out from the
vertical centerline in a cone-shapedmotion,envelope is slack,caving in
andpopping,internalenvelopetemperature dropswellbelowanything
youwouldhave expected.Youare nowona roll coasterridedown.
Analtitude flight might notbe everyone’s cupoftea,but itallowed
Phil Macnutttostretch his abilityandtest that ofthe balloonhe built on
a 50 yearoldsewing machine. Fortwo hoursandfifteenminutes he had
a great flight,traveling51milesandclimbingto32,000feet.
Learnhow heaccomplishedit beginningonpage 20.
loon to a personal best altitude.
Inset: Altimeter showing 32,00 0 feet.
