THE MAGAZINE FOR HOT AIR BALLOONING

10.2001
Volume 16, Number 10

Features

FAR Out
Maintenance Records. A column about Federal Aviation Regulations.

Winds of Change... Using Air as a Tool
Inflator fans have helped save balloonists and their crew from the back breaking work of flapping enough air into envelope to be able to turn on the burner and finish the inflation. Today those same fans are helping the fire fighting industry to aggressively attach fires and save lives.

QinetiQ 1
Colin Prescot and Andy Elson hope to break a 41 year old record in ballooning. Malcolm Ross and Victor Prather flew a balloon to 113,740 in 1961 and then splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. Prescot and Elson want to climb higher than 130,000 feet and make a successful landing at sea to establish a new absolute altitude record for ballooning.
QinetiQ 1 Facts and Figures
Techincal Challenges Faced by the QinetiQ 1 Team

What Were You Doing When You Were 13????
Kasey Schwemmer has been fascinated with balloons as long as he can remember. He started "flying" tissue paper balloons. Now he has graduated to building his own remote control hot air balloon.

Olympic Flames
The Olympic Torch Flies High
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was honored with being able to participate in the Olympic Torch Run.
Reflections of a Torchbearer
Gary Waldman, father of Serena Waldman and head dude of Serena's Song handicap balloon, shares his Olympic Torch story.

Special Report: Report on the BFA

Interview with Rick Jones, President Balloon Federation of America
Balloon Life spoke with Rick Jones, President Balloon Federation of America on what the organization's plans are for 2002

Checklist

Editor

Preflight
News and Information

Repair Station
Cold Weather Operations

Hangar Flying
with George Denniston
Tanks, but no tanks

Cover Illustration: Balloons Over Letchworth, New York, help lovers take the "plunge" over spectacular waterfalls.
Photo: Courtesy of Balloons Over Letchworth