July 2000
stateknownforthoroughbredhorses
might not soundlike the best place tofly
balloons.ButKentuckyballoonistssay
they’velearnedtocoexistjustfinewith
thegracefulfour-leggedcreaturesand
their owners.
“They are very expensive horses,” said
balloonistBrianBeazly,ofLouisville.
“Everyhorseyou’veeverheardofis
aroundhere. Secretariat ishere. You just
have to be carefulabout where yougo.”
Bob Corey, anotherLouisvilleballoon-
ist,sayspilotsneedtocontinueusing
extreme care and planning fortheir flights
toavoidsensitiveareas,notsomuch
aroundLouisville, but closer to the horse
farms around Lexington.
“With all those horse farms around, it’s
not for a novice flier,” Corey said. “Let’s
putitthisway:Whenthehorsehashis
ownswimmingpoolforexercise,our
insurancewouldn’tgohighenoughto
cover it.”
For the mostpart, Kentuckianslike to
watchballoons, which have beena regu-
larfixture at thestate’s most famous event,
theKentuckyDerby,for28years.The
balloonraceisoneof70eventsheld
duringmore thantwoweeksofcelebra-
tions around the horse race. There arealso
bed races, a golf tournament, waiter con-
testsanda mini-marathon.
“There’s more goingon thananysane
personcould dointhe community,” said
Don Schieman, a festivalspokesman.
About80,000peoplewatchthebal-
loonsglow the eveningbefore the actual
balloonrace,hesaid.Theexposureis
appreciatedbythenumerouscorporate
balloonists,who,likethenon-commer-
cial entrants, must paya $2,000 entry fee
toparticipate.
The nextmorning, pilots compete in a
single hare and hound race and are given
abean bag filled with Kentucky bluegrass
seed. They fly from the Kentucky Fair and
Center,withinamileof
Churchill Downs.
Louisvillehas a strong ballooning com-
munity, with more than 50 active pilots in
thearea.The cityis,or wasatone time,
hometoseveralshapestoo,includinga
whiskey bottle,a Kentucky Fried Chicken
bucket,Santa Claus, aclown, a birthday
cake, a race car anda strawberry.
TheBalloon Society ofKentucky,based
in Louisville, hosts flights twice a month,
from April through October, to determine
aclubchampion.Betweenfiveand20
balloons may show up for the flights, said
club presidentTerry Hoge.
The club holds business meetings, pic-
nics and partiesanda chili cook-off, but
also likes to coordinate charity tethers or
flightsfor the community. The clubalso
holdsanannualfleamarketof balloon-
related items members hope to get rid of.
The club has a landowner program and
keepsa detailedmapof redzones.
“We have a lot of PZs, but our pilots are
pretty responsible,” Hoge said. “They fly
highover horses andtrynot to landwith
livestock.”
There are several corporate balloons in
the area, as well as commercial pilots who
charge $150 to $175 per person for rides,
pilots say.
Thereare two designated examiners for
balloonsinthestate,andtwoballoon
repair stations.
Louisville is also unique in that it hosts
three major balloon festivals of 50 to100
balloons inthe spring, summer andfall.
The Derby festival is heldin the spring.
In the summer, pilots compete for three
key grabsfeaturing a truck and a total of
$10,000cashintheOhioValleyGreat
Hot AirBalloon Festival.Close to 100,000
spectators attend the festival,whichalso
featuresavolleyballtournament,a5-K
run and the largest African-American fam-
ilyreunionfestival.
Inlate September,a cheesecake com-
panysponsorsaracefeaturing$50,000
prize money. The AdamsMatthews Bal-
loonFestival, whichacceptsasmanyas
100 balloonists, raises money for a foun-
dation for ill children.
Normally,Sundaysduringtheevents
are reservedfor raindates.
Andwhenanorganizer wouldliketo
havea few balloonsfor afestival,there
are plenty of pilots and crew members to
choosefromlocallywithouthavingthe
expenseof puttingthemupovernightin
hotels.
“We have a lot of one-day events,which
isreally nice for the pilots,” Coreysaid.
EventshavebeenheldinDanville,
LaGrange,Taylorsville,Jeffersontown,
Harrodsburgand Paducah.
FlyingisfairlyeasyinmuchofKen-
tucky,pilotssay.Flightsarecommon
bothmorningandevenings, anytime of
the year. The fair weather wasone factor
why UPS chose to locate its headquarters
inLouisville,Corey said.
Hesaidtheentirecenterofthestate,
fromCincinnatitoNashville,isperfect
flying area for balloonists.
“Thereareplentyofplacestoland,
plentyofroadstochaseon,allrolling
hills. It’sparadise.”
EasternKentucky,however,isn’tas
heavenly. Itismountainous andwooded
andpilotswhohaveflowntherehave
some interestingstoriestotell.
“We do some static balloon displays in
some cities inthe east, but generally, it’s
toomou ntain oustofly,”saidStu art
Crawford,ofLouisville,whohostsan
annual safety seminar. “Landing areas are
verysparse.Ifyoumakeit eastofI-75,
youwenttoofar.It’sveryhilly,very
forested.”
Ollie Schoo, 80, of Versailles, south of
Frankfort, agrees.
“The easternpartof the state is mostly
July2000
said.“You’reasking for
trouble down there.”
Schoo,who hasbeenballooning for
more than 25 years, prefers to fly in the
heart of bluegrass country.
“It’s wonderful,” he said. “In fact, the
terrain is so good, it’s bad. I discourage
anybodyelsefromflyinginthis area
because I don’t want anybody messing it
up for me.”
The region is home to numerous to-
baccofieldsandthoroughbredhorsefarms.
In hisyearsof flying,he’sonly had twoor
three complaints, he said.
“Imake prettysure it’smy last resort if
I have to land there,” Schoo said. “If you
see horses in thepaddockgrazing, the
Balloon Society of Kentucky, more than 100 pilot and crew members, hold bimonthly educational meetings on the second
Thursday of odd-numbered months in Louisville; they also sponsor a race series with competition flights, twice a month from
April through Octoberto determine a club champion; landowner program,charity flights, picnic, Christmas party, chili cook-
off, flea market of balloon items. Annual dues are $20 per person, of $30 per family plus a one-time $10 initiation fee, which
includesthe bimonthlynewsletter. Newsletter subscriptions only are $15 a year. Contact: P.O. Box 7661, Louisville, KY
40257.
Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Race, in Louisville, 50 balloons, last Saturday in April, with The Great Balloon
Glow onFriday; one hare and houndflight (three backupdates) for $4,500 split among topthree prizes; $2,000 entry fee.
One of 70events aroundthe KentuckyDerby. Contact: Don Schieman, KentuckyDerbyFestival, 1001South Third St.,
Louisville, KY 40203. 1-800-928-3378. Internet: www.kdf.org
Firstar Balloon Classic, inBowling Green in July, 60 balloonsfly Fridaymorning, tether Friday afternoon;fly Saturday
morning and evening in BFA and NABA sanctioned competition for $17,500 purse and two ring grabs for substantial cash
prizes; competition involvesmultiple tasks and flightsper launch; entertainment, rides,Saturdayeveningparty. Contact:
Dave Eastland, 5160 Inman BranchRoad, Franklin, TN 37064. 615-799-2323.
Ohio Valley Great Hot Air Balloon Festival, in Louisville, end of July or early August, 75 balloons fly from Shawnee Park
Saturday morning for key grabs for a new truck, $7,500 and $2,500 in cash; Saturday evening hare and hound for more than
$5,000 in prizemoney; Friday glow, Saturday evening reception; rain date is Sunday. Theevent, in its 17th year, is sponsored
by the Louisville Defender newspaper and the Kentucky Lottery. Contact: Clarence Leslie, 1720 Dixie Highway, Louisville,
KY 40210. 502-772-2591.
Heartland Festival, in Elizabethtown, last weekend in August, 25 balloons, Friday glow, Saturday afternoon CNTwith each
pilot allowed to make up to three passes in 2.5 hours into a city park or water target area for a $2,500 cash purse; fireworks.
Contact: Stuart Crawford, 1812 FoxboroRoad, LaGrange, KY 40031. 502-222-7600.
Adams Matthews Balloon Festival, at Bowman Field in Louisville, 75 balloons, last weekend in September, Friday balloon
glow, Saturdaymorningandeveningcompetition flights, keygrab, $50,000total prize money. Profits benefitthe Dream
Factory, a foundation for ill children. Contact: Clare Bize, 2104Plantside Drive, Louisville, KY 40299. 1-800-359-8118.
Internet: www.balloonglow.com
Green
isville
aregenerallybigenoughyoucan
find another area on the farm where there
aren’t horses.”
Schoosaidheenjoysflyingoverthe
state capital of Frankfort, can find hills 40
miles away and mountains 60 miles away.
“We have anything you want,” he said.
Thoughthere aren’tmanyballoonists
inwesternKentucky,it’snota problem
flying over the Mississippi or Ohio rivers
tofarmlandinaneigh boringst ate,
Crawfordsaid.
Most airport personnel in Kentucky are
friendlyandtolerantofballoonistsand
al lowthemtoflynearb y,alth oug h
Covington, by Cincinnatiairport’s Class
B airspace, is moredifficult to get permis-
toflynear.
About 30 miles southwest of Louisville
isFort Knox.The 15-mile base is some-
timesa restricted area,not becauseoffi-
cials are afraid of visitorsgrabbing some
gold, butdue to anactive range for artil-
leryandtank practice.
“As long as you understand the rules of
engagement,you’llhavenoproblem,”
said Crawford.
Crawfordhasbeenballooningaround
the country, but says there’s no place like
home.
“The other areas I’ve flown in have all
beennice,but Iwouldn’ttradethisarea
for anything,” he said.
