May 1999
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
published monthly by Balloon Life
Magazine, Inc., 2336 47th Ave SW,
Seattle, WA 98116-2331
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MAGAZINE
May 1999
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Mike Rose, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Jonathan Abdalla, Jim Isler
Jeff Johnson, Greg Livadas
Joe Mussulman, Walter Pierce
Sharon Stensaas, Jim Trusty
Kathy Wales
2336 47th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 9811 6
Fax: 206-935-3326
e-mail: tom@balloonlife.com
Internet: http://balloonlife.com/
Phone: 206-935-3649
Thismonth’sSpecialReport,Flying With The Wind,examinessomeofthe
micrometeorologicalconsiderationsforballooning.Airisafluiditmoves.Weuse
favorable wind changesfor steeringandnavigation. Yet, manyaccidents andmishaps
inballooningare a result of inadequate planning for wind. Airflow aroundobjects and
wind shears cantake the unexpecting balloonist bysurprise.
Being a student of wind will better prepare you for situations that might arise.Flying
With The Windwill explain many possible scenarios that may confront you, and how to
reacttoor avoid them.
The following story was sent in bya reader. It appearedinRoads to Adventure, a
travel magazine, detailinga journalist’s hot air balloonexperience.
“We boarded our basket, gripping the sides for some sense of security. As we were
about to lift off, our pilot’s partnerasked forsome assistance with loading the gear. Much
to our dismay, when the pilot stepped out of the basket, the balloon slowly started to lift.
Acry for help brought immediateresponse; ourpilot grabbed the ropes hanging from the
basket, broughtit backtoterra firma and climbedon board. At last, we were ready for
liftoff.”
Whatdoesittaketogetabookpublished?Withadventofcomputersandthe
emergingfieldof publishingondemand,thefuture holdsgreatpromiseforspecial
interest titles like ballooning.
Con tri bu ti nged it or
George Denniston,however,
has brought his newbook,The
Joy of Ballooning, tomarket
theoldfashionway.Hehas
spen tmorethantenyears
knockingondoorsofbook
publishersaroundthecoun-
try. Once he found a publisher
thebookitselftookseveral
yearstocometofruition.A
review ofthis new coffeetable
book that introduces the gen-
eralpublictoballooningcan
be found onpage 33.
