Fantasy Balloons

Wayne Metler, President of Fantasy Sky Promotions Inc., manufacturer of Fantasy Balloons, announced a six percent across the board decrease in pricing due to the strong buying power of the U.S. dollar. This decrease pertains to complete systems and envelopes only, whether constructed under their Type Certificate or one of their STC's.

HYPER-MAX, a heavier weight silicone elastomer coated nylon fabric is now used on the outer edge of all parachutes and the top panels next to the deflation port on all envelopes. The good news is that this is a no cost standard feature on all envelopes constructed by Fantasy Sky Promotions Inc., HYPER-MAX can be optionally substituted for all standard fabric anywhere above the equator on all envelopes.

Fantasy Sky Promotions Inc., 205 Bridge St., New Dundee, Ontario, Canada N0B 2E0. Phone or Fax 519-696-2414

WeatherJack

The WeatherJack is a low-cost device for monitoring weather fronts and an aid in predicting short term weather changes in localized areas.

The WJ10 is a barograph/thermograph built into a small module that connects to a PC via a serial interface. The collected data is viewed on a PC in a graphical format or can be exported into a spreadsheet program for further analysis. The pressure can be displayed in inches or millibars and the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Additionally, the sampling interval can be set to either 15, 30 or 60 minutes.

The WeatherJack is powered by a nine volt Alkaline battery so it can accumulate five days data (128 samples) even while the PC is off. A trend indicator serves as an alert to fast changing weather conditions.

Suggested retail price for the WeatherJack is $129.00. Requires Windows capable system with eight megabytes of RAM. For more information contact Conex Electro Systems, PO Box 1342, Bellingham, WA 98227. Phone 360-734-4323, e-mail: conex@conex-electro.com

FAI News

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world governing body for all kinds of sporting aviation and air and space records, is to move to a new headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, in a few month's time. The FAI Council, meeting in Paris, selected Lausanne from a strong list of bidders, including Geneva, Monaco and Vienna.

FAI President Eilif Ness of Norway, commenting on the decision, explained that there were several reasons for the decision to move to Lausanne: The need, shared by all international sporting federations, for a good, stable business environment with an international atmosphere; FAI's requirement for status befitting its position as an international non-governmental organization, recognized by the UN and the ICAO; the synergy effect of being co-located with the numerous other International Sporting Federations already based in Lausanne, including co-location with the International Olympic Committee, emphasizing FAI's primary role as the air sport governing body; the need for high-quality, affordable office space with long-term security of tenure; the promise of support, including financial concessions, from regional, municipal and Olympic authorities; availability of well-qualified, multi-lingual staff; easy access for delegates through Zurich and Geneva.

The forthcoming move forms part of FAI's strategic Business Plan, also adopted by the FAI Council, which aims to position FAI for the new millennium as a modern, business-like federation, well placed to serve the needs of its members and in the mainstream of the world sporting movement.

In a separate announcement the FAI has named Spain as the host country for the 2nd World Air Games.

FAA News

Lynn Harris, Balloon Federation of America Government Liaison, has reported a modification to FAR Part 61.129(h)(4) and a clarification as to what constitutes "a flight" in a balloon.

A modification to 61.129(h)(4) has added the wording "with an authorized instructor". It now reads: 61.129(h)(4) "10 hours of flight training that includes at least 10 training flights `with an authorized instructor' in balloons on the areas of operations listed in 61.127(b)(8) or this part, which consists of at least..."

The FAA went on to further clarify this by saying: It means, "10 hours of flight training that includes at least 10 training flights... on the areas of operation listed in 61.127(b)(8) of this part..." It doesn't mean they [pilot] can add their time forward from the private pilot certification level. All of the time has to be, "...on the areas of operation listed in 61.127(b)(8) of this part."

Harris goes on to say that FAR paragraph 1.1, the definition of a "flight" in a balloon is no different than a "flight" in an airplane, helicopter, glider, etc. In accordance with the "flight" definition in Chapter 1.1, a balloon pilot would not need to deflate and break the balloon down and then re-setup and reinflate the balloon to credit multiple "flights."

US Nationals

Dave Lowe, Chairman of the BFA Competition Division, announced that in addition to the pilots competing to be U.S. National Champion, the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships has created a new classification of balloonists - The Sportsman Class. According to Lowe, "The Sportsman Class formerly known as the Fiesta Pilots, has been created to appeal to a broader range of pilots."

Balloon pilots choosing to participate in the Sportsman's Class are invited to compete in each flight. Prize money will be awarded to the top three places in each flight. In addition, cumulative scoring for all Sportsman balloons will be maintained through the week with money and prizes being paid to the top scoring Sportsman pilots.

The new classification was created to entice balloonists who cannot commit to the full nine days of flying. With this change, pilots can fly and compete just on the weekends or selected days through the week and still win prize money. According to Max Mitchell, Chairman of the event for Champaign County, "We are very pleased that the Competition Division has created the Sportsman Class. This new group allows greater flexibility for pilots who don't have the time to be here for all nine days, but still want to be part of the excitement."

The Competition Division also announced that both the Competition and Sportsman pilot briefings will be conducted simultaneously. In the past the two different groups met one after the other. "This is an important change. At the new location in Champaign County we now have ample meeting room space so the two pilot briefings can be conducted at the same time," added Lowe. "This will give both groups of pilots equal flying time following the briefings."

Therapack

PI Medical, Athens, Tennessee, a leading manufacturer of home health care products, has introduced their Therapack, Therapack Sport, and Sideline Sports Therapy Kit series of cold/hot packs for pain relief therapy.

Consumers everyday suffer sprains, muscle soreness, cramps, headaches, and dental trauma that suggest the use of cold or hot application therapy for immediate relief. The typical use of ice bags, hard plastic gel packs, or plug-in heating pads are messy, uncomfortable, inconvenient, and restrictive. These unique one-piece cold or hot gel packs feature Wrapflaps, so they can be used flat or as a wrap to provide compression as needed. These reusable, soft fabric packs can be chilled in a freezer or heated in a microwave and then applied directly to the skin.

Packs come in a variety of sizes. For more information contact PI Medical, PO Box 1067, Athens, TN 37371 or call 423-746-1326.

Insigniart

Insigniart, Daytona Beach, Florida, has introduced a new full color photographic award plaques. A new product called "Polyplax," changes the boring perception of a plain "wall plaque" into an exciting and inspiring work of art and beauty.

Polyplax are modern and multipurpose, going beyond awards as gifts, mementos, collectibles, or simply a display of one's own pride. Anything that can be photographed can be made into a Polyplax.

For more information contact Lee Papadeas, 2090 S Nova Rd. #B-201, Daytona Beach, FL 32119 or call 904-788-8139, e-mail: patch2plax@mindspring.com, Internet: http://www.insigniart.com/

NOTAM

To our readers: the July is being delivered late do to some technical difficulties. Our apologies for this delay.

"You know, Fred, you have a really weird sense of humor."