by Wendy Ceccherelli
While working towards her Ph.D. in biochemistry
in England, Lindsay Muir got involved with the Bath University hot air balloon
club. After her initiation with a flight on Montgolfier Day, commemorating
the 200th Anniversary of the sport of hot air ballooning, biochemistry just
wasn't the same. Lindsay found her true love and passion in ballooning,
and began working as a full-time balloonist and free-lance commercial pilot.
In 1988, she came across an article in Aerostat about competition flying. It indicated that free propane would be available to encourage participation in competitive balloon events. Since there was generally no prize money, no sponsorship, and no freebies at other balloon events, Lindsay jumped at the chance. She entered her first Grand Prix, then entered the British National Balloon Championships. And she won.
"To be fair, we only did four tasks. Other people might have thought it was a fluke, but I felt I flew those tasks well."
Lindsay Muir was on her way to becoming an international balloon competitor, qualified to fly in Saga, Japan after only her second competitive flight. The next year, she finished seventh in the British Nationals. "People said, `Oh well, maybe it wasn't a fluke'".
Setting a Woman's Distance record soon followed, no easy task. "People don't realize how very difficult it is for the British to set distance records, because we don't have the land mass." So Lindsay took flight solo across the English Channel, landing in LeMans France. She will never forget the image of Don Cameron waving her off at 3 a.m. that morning, wearing his classic purple pullovers with a tie. Nor will she forget the hospitality of the farmer in whose field she landed. She spoke no French; the farmer spoke no English and was illiterate. Nevertheless, for four hours she helped him pick apples, drank homemade cider, and somehow connected.
Every year she has attempted to participate in at least one international competition. "The wonderful thing about competition flying is you go somewhere you'd never dream of ever going as a touristplaces like Slovenia, Turkey and Jordan. I'll go anywhere it's new, it's an adventure."
The birth of daughter Chloe in 1994 hardly slowed her down. Chloe traveled with Mom to competition at the British Nationals at six weeks of age, to Slovenia at two months, most recently to Turkey; and just had her first balloon flight in 1997 in France.
Lindsay has served as a committee member of the British Balloon and Airship Club for the last six years, in positions as Safety Officer and as Chairman of the Competitions Club. On being female in a male-dominated competitive arena, Lindsay says, " I am just a bit disappointed that there aren't more women pilots seriously competing." Ten percent of all British pilots are women, just one percent of them make money at ballooning. Lindsay Muir competed as the only woman in the 1993 and 1995 World Championships.
While Lindsay doesn't see herself as a role model for women, she was very proud of her performance in Turkeywinning second-place in a male-dominated Muslim country was rewarding. "There is no difference [between male and female balloon pilots]. You don't have to be fitter, strength and stamina don't come into it; it's all in the mind. Most people don't try to get a balloon to go where they want it to go," says Lindsay, who used to swim, water ski, and ride horses competitively as a child. "A lot of it is to keep yourself going. You just don't give up.
"I just do competition for myself. If I don't do well, I feel like I've let my crew down. I've just never felt I had to compete with men. I just got on with things."
Husband Graham has been a loyal supporter and crew member. Says Lindsay, "My crew are tremendousthey really are very good. I really couldn't do it without such good support."
Aside from her dreams of retiring with a vast amount of money, Lindsay would like to find a sponsor "so I could afford to do competition flying, and do fun events every once in a while." As a free-lance commercial pilot, she feels torn between the need to make money at ballooning and her abilities to improve as a competitive pilot. Sponsors, are you listening?
Nov. 21, 1983 First balloon flight
1986 Private pilot's license
1988 British women's duration record for AX-7
1988, 96 British Hot Air Balloon Champion
1989 Commercial pilot's license
1989 British women's distance record for AX-7
1989 Women's world distance record for AX-8
1990-92, 96 Four-time Ladies World Cup Champion
1995 Sixth place finish in World Championships, Battle Creek, MI
1997 Second place, First World Air Games, Turkey
