3

Balloon Life,April 1999

April 1999
Volume 14, Number 4

Checklist

The Magazine For Hot Air Ballooning

Features

4

Editor

6

Preflight
NewsandInformation

10

Calendar

52

Repair Station
Non-Destructive Ground
Operations

54

Balloon Life Marketplace
Products andServices for sale

62

Hangar Flying
withGeorge Denniston
Tempus Fugit

Cover Photo:
Sunsetsilhouette
Photo: Paul
Hiffmeyer

Special Report: 14th AnnualBalloon Buyer’s Guide

19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46

Introduction
Aerostar International
Avian BalloonCorporation
TheBalloonWorks
CameronBalloons
Eagle Balloons
FantasyBalloons
GalaxyBalloons
HeadBalloons
LindstrandBalloonsUSA
NationalBallooning,Ltd.
SkyBalloons
Thunder &Colt
UltraMagic Balloons
Boland Balloons

12

AroundtheWorldin20Days
Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, flyingBreitlingOrbiter 3,become the
first aeronauts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon.
14BreitlingOrbiter 3Highlights
Notes and highlightsfrom the 20dayvoyage of Breitling Orbiter 3

49

ProficiencyandyourWINGS
Skill retention can easily be lost duringperiodsof inactivity. The Federal
Aviation Administration has a program that encourages youto continually
practice. In addition tomaintainingyour proficiencyyou meet the
requirements of a biennialflight review and earn your WINGS.

57

StateofBallooning
Balloon Life’s review of ballooningin the U.S.:
57Alaska
59Wisconsin