June 2000
in northeast Ohio may
not feel as unique as pilots flying in other
partsofthecountry.Dozensofactive
balloonistsflynearCanton,Akronand
Cleveland,buttheirballoonsaren’tthe
only lighter-than-air craft that can be seen
floating overhead.
Blimps areregular fixtures near the
Goodyear headquarters in Akron.
“Weseethemaroundalot,”said
balloonistBobZanella.“Thekeyisto
climbandlet them see us, thenthey usu-
ally come around and visit us.”
Ohio is rich with ballooning and blimp
history. Nearly 50 years ago, the Lighter-
Than-AirSocietyformedinAkronby
enthusiasts,aswellasGoodyearpilots
whoflewblimpsandgasballoons.Al-
thoughmanyoftheoriginalmembers
have diedover the years, a couple dozen
enthusiastsstillgatheronceamonthto
talk about blimps, the properties of lifting
gas, Navysurplus balloons and the latest
flying ships in the Goodyear fleet.
The club planstoopena museum in
thenextcoupleofyearsinAkron.The
NortheastOhioBalloonPilotsAssocia-
tion has donated $2,500 to the effort “be-
causewearekindredspirits,”saidpast
presidentDickRossen, of Akron.
Local balloonists like Rossen appre-
ciate all the history intheir backyard.
“TheAkronPublicLibraryhasthe
mostextensivelighter-than-airpublica-
tionsintheworld,”hesaid.“Someof
them are original manuscripts in German
andFrench.”
Mike Emich, a record-setting hot-air
balloonist from Akron, recalls beingfas-
cinated by blimps when he was in kinder-
garten. His love of aviation and the prox-
imitytofamousballoonistsandblimp
pilotsenabledhimtomeetmanyof the
sport’s famous forefathers.
“I was inthe rightplaceattheright
anautographedphotoofhimselfasa
youngsterwithWardT.VanOrman,a
Goodyear balloonist and three-time Gor-
don Bennett championfrom the ’20s and
’30s.
“He was the onlyguy to ever fly out
into the North Sea and land on a ship, but
theydisqualifiedhimbecausehedidn’t
landonland,” Emichsaid.“He saidthe
most important piece of equipment a bal-
loonist can carry is a harmonica, forenter-
tainment because you could be sittingby
yourself for days in the Canadian wilder-
ness.”
Having rich resources in lighter-than-
air historyhavecome inhandyover the
years for guest speakers at meetings. And
a blimphanger inAkronwas alsocalled
intoserviceforatrans-globalballoon
attempt. In the winter of 1992, theEarth-
windsballoon had been inflated inside the
hugehanger,justwaitingfortheright
weather.
DuringtheNOBPA’sseminar,“I
askedhowmanypeoplewantedtogo
lookat Earthwinds, and every hand went
up,” Rossen said. A special clearance was
arrangedtovisitthesecuredfacility.
Weeks later, the balloon was deflated, cut
up and sold for souvenirswhenthe right
weather wasn’t found.
Ohioisalsothrivingwithmodern
balloonists. With 150 members, NOBPA,
founded 20 years ago, is one of the largest
and most active balloon clubs in the coun-
try.
“Locally, we probably have about 60
balloons,” saidZanella, a designatedex-
aminerforballoonswhobeganflying
them in 1972.
Theclubnotonlyputsonalarge
safety seminar attended by hundreds each
winter,buthasasuccessfullandowner
program. Participating pilots pay a dollar
Forevery50cardsreturned,theclub
selectsonetoreceivea$100savings
bond.
Also,mostcommercialpilotsin the
area dedicateoneflighta yearandgive
thoseproceedstoa scholarshipfundfor
childrenoffarmers.Nearly$35,000has
beenraisedinthiseffort;$600scholar-
shipsareawardedtostudentsfromthe
interestinthat fund, Zanella said.
“It’s anideal thing because we get a
lotofmembersthatparticipateandwe
love doingit,” he said.
Onereason forso many balloonists—
at least 100—call Ohiohome maybe the
active club, but also several balloon festi-
valsheldthere.Somehavebeenheld
annually for more than 25years.
“Wehaveexposure,”Zanellasaid.
“Theralliesthat we’vehadaroundhere
andcompetitions thatwe’ve doneinthe
past have helped. We had more popularity
after rallies and get more inquiries.”
Heestimatesthereareatleastfive
balloonrepair stations inOhio,but says
there are only two full-time rideoperators
are inthe northeastpartof the state.
“Theykeytoour popularityhereis
we don’t have that manycommercial pi-
lots making a living ballooning,” Zanella
said.
Instead, he said, most Ohio pilots like
torace.Competitiveballooning,asone
pilotputit,is“hotandheavyinOhio,”
which hostedthe U.S. NationalChampi-
onships inMiddletownfrom 1992-1994.
Several Ohio pilots compete eachyear in
national competitions.
“We have a good core of pilots here,”
Emichsaid.“Competitionmakesyoua
better pilot.”
Al Nels, who lives near Dayton, won
theWorldChampionshipin1987and
1991. He said flying in the terrain near his
June 2000
Central Ohio Balloon Club, about 30 members, 10 of them pilots, meet the second Tuesday of the month; club
flightsinthe summer, landowner relations program.Annualduesare $15,or $24for families andinclude a
monthly newsletter. Contact:P.O. Box 141403, Columbus, OH 43214.
Lighter-Than-Air Society, formed in1952 tohelp preserve the history of gas balloon and blimp flight, meets
the secondThursdayof eachmonth at Goodyear Hall in Akron; more than 700 members worldwide. Dues are
$15a year. Contact: 1436Triplett Blvd., Akron, OH 44306.
Northeast Ohio Balloon Pilots Association, about 150 members, about half of them pilots; monthly meetings,
often on the second Wednesday of the month in Richfield; summer flights, picnics, a winter awards banquet to
honor milestonesinflying; safetyseminar. Annualduesare $30, or $40 per family, and include the monthly
newsletter,The Drop Line. Newsletter only is $15 a year. Contact: 220 Second St. N.W., Barberton, OH 44203.
www.nobpa.com
Southwest Ohio Balloon Club, about 50 members, including 20 pilots, meetings scheduled thefirst Wednesday
of the monthfor educational programs; monthly flights alsoscheduled; spring and fall picnics. Dues are $15,
or$20perfamilyandincludethemonthlynewsletter,Blast Valve.Contact:1705NorthBreielBoulevard,
Middletown, OH 45042.
experience tocompete.
“Theareaisveryflatwithalotof
rolling hills, some nice lakes and streams
anda lotof farmlandandwoodedarea,”
Nelssaid.Hesaidabout15activebal-
loonists live near Dayton.
Whent hena tio n alscam et o
Middletown, it was a bit of acultureshock
for JamesWannemacher,whohadbeen
the only balloonist intown.
“Th erewason ebal lo oni n
Middletown,andall ofa suddenthere’s
165 ofthem,” Wannemacher said. Hesaid
there are 15active pilotstherenow, and
“everybodyisaware of ballooning.”
Morethanadozenballoonsgather
eachsummermonthtofly insanctioned
eventsat acampgroundsinHomerville,
about 30miles westof Akron.
“Weencourage ouryoungpilotsto
gothere becausethereisbeautiful360-
degreeflyingthroughAmishcountry,”
Zanella said.
Dan O’Brien, who has been balloon-
ingintheColumbusareafornearly30
years, saysdevelopment hastaken away
somelandingspots,butit’sstillafine
place tofly.Pilots shouldavoidColum-
the sub-
urbs, over what usedto be farmland.
“Now, it’s housing developments that
have beencomingin,” hesaid. “Butit’s
nice flyingin CentralOhio. Youcanfly
360-degrees.We’ve got good access roads
for crews, we’ve got pretty good weather,
andonce youdevelopafriendshipwith
farmers,youhave noproblemsinland-
ings.Aslongasyoutreatthemright,
they’re happytohaveyoulandontheir
property.”
Brian Trapp, wholives near Cincin-
nati, says there usedto be dozens of bal-
loonists intown. Now, there are abouta
half dozen active pilots. Trapp likes to fly
across the OhioRiver intoKentucky, or
fromKentuckyintoOhio.
“I do that all the time,” he said. “The
trickypart is flyingeast or west,” where
there are fewer bridges for crew members
tocross.
If there is any drawbackto balloon-
ing in Ohio, it’s the weather, Zanella said.
“WeflyJunethroughSeptember,”
hesaid. “May and October are iffy months.
If it’sgood,it’s abonus. If it’sbad,it’s
typical. ButI reallylove Ohio’s flying.”
June 2000
Blossom Time Balloon Festival, in Chagrin Falls, Memorial Day Weekend, 25 balloons, fly Friday evening through
Monday morning in sanctioned competitionfor a $5,000purse. Contact:Debby Young, 324E-266, Euclid, OH 44132.
216-261-0966.
Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival, two weekends after Memorial Day, 30 balloons fly five scheduled flights, Friday
afternoon through Sunday afternoon in sanctioned competition for prizes and a small cash purse; Saturday evening glow,
carnivalrides, craft show, flea market, baseballtournament, motorcycle parade oflights. Contact:PattyCramer, 522Hill
St., Coshocton, OH 43812. 740-622-2571.
BlueAshAirport Days BalloonRace, in Cincinnati, second weekend in June, 25 balloonsfly four scheduled flights,
from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning in fun flights as part of an air show; key grab. Contact: Dick Liming,
2635 Hunt Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. 513-793-5656.
Big Bear Balloon Festival, in Grove City, south of Columbus, fourth weekend in June; 75 balloons fly five flights,
Friday through Sunday afternoon, with Friday morning media flight; competition flying for $10,000 cash purse and
prizes, passenger rides;heldatBeulah Park, a thoroughbredrace track; entertainmentby the Beach Boys, Village People
and Clint Black. Contact: Marie Policastro, 1140 Bloomfield Ave., Suite209, West Caldwell, NJ07006. 973-882-9732.
www.balloonfestival.com
Ashland Balloonfest, weekend prior to the Fourth of July, 30 balloons fly four flights, Friday afternoon through Sunday
morning, glow Friday. Contact: Ashland Chamber of Commerce, 47 W. MainSt., Ashland, OH 44805. 419-281-4584.
www.ashlandoh.com/bf
AllAmericanWeekendBalloonRace, inMiddletown, Fourthof July weekend, 25 balloons flysix competitionflights
fora$2,000cashpurse; fireworks,music,foodconcessions.Contact:James Wannemacher,P.O.Box 8548,
Middletown, OH 45042. 513-423-1554.
Pro Football Hallof Fame Festival BalloonClassic Invitational, in Canton, last weekend in July (sometimes early
August)as part of a 10-day festivalof eventsaround the NFL inductioninto the Football Hallof Fame, 60 balloonsfly
in competition for $12,000 purse, $500 cash grab at Kent State’s Stark Campus; team competitions; Friday Glow.
Contact: Joanne Murray, Canton Chamber of Commerce, 229 Wells Ave N.W., Canton, OH 44703. 330-456-7253.
www.profootballhoffestival.com
DefianceBalloonRally, late July,30balloonsflyFridayeveningthroughSunday morning, withSaturdayeveningglow,
insanctionedcompetitionfor a $5,000cashpurse. Contact:Jim Birk,2033 LaurelwoodDrive, Defiance, OH43512. 419-
784-2887.
Jaycees Hot AirAffair, in Van Wert, second weekend inAugust, 25balloonsfly four flights, Friday afternoon through
Sunday morning in fun competition. Contact: Mike Conn, 9769-F Noble Lane, Van Wert, OH 45891. 419-238-0048.
All-OhioBalloon Festival, in Marysville, third weekend in August since 1975, 35 balloons fly four flights, Friday
afternoon through Sunday morning in fun and sanctioned competitionfor a $3,000 purse; Saturday glow;lawn mower
races, bingo and crafts. Contact: Jack Scott: P.O. Box 24, Marysville, OH 43040, 937-644-8307 www.ohiohotair.com
FlagCityBalloonFest, inFindlay, lastweekend inAugust, 25balloons,fourscheduled flights, Fridayevening through
Sundaymorninginsanctioned competition. Contact:FindlayConventionandV isitorsBureau, 123EastMain CrossSt.,
Findlay, OH 45840. 419-422-3313.
Ravenna Balloon A-Fair, third weekend in September, 22 balloons, three fun flights, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
afternoons; children’s parade and rides, booths and crafts along Main Street. Contact: Candy Moore, P.O. Box 454,
Ravenna, OH 44266. 330-296-3247.
