July 1999
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
published monthly by Balloon Life
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MAGAZINE
July 1999
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Tony Colburn, Carolle Doyle
Jim Ellis, Paul Hiffmeyer, Shery Larson
Malcolm McLeod, Joe Musslman
John Terry, Wilton Warnecke
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Everneedtoshippropanetanks?Beforetheshipperwillexceptthemyouare
required topurge the gas vapor out. U.S. andInternational rules require it. Neither the
Federal Aviation Administration northe International Air Transport Association defines
an acceptable purging process. Theydon’t even define an acceptable result, other than
itmustbesafe.Forafee,therearecompanieswhowilldothejobandprovidea
certificate, one theymade up, becausenone exists from the agencywhich require the
certificate.
JohnTerry, Aerostatic Engineering, headquartered in SanJose, California, inves-
tigated how the purging process works. His testing and results are detailed in our Special
Report beginningon page 24.
The report notonlyexamines what is necessarytomake the tanksafe, Terryalso
testsways that you can purge the tank when miles from high pressure pumps and inert
gases. Using a simple compressor, a flame block, desiccator, proper hoses, fittings, and
valvesyou canpurge propane tanks in the field to a safe levelfor shipping.
If youareconsideringtravelingoverseastoaballooneventor justshippingthe
balloon acrossthe country, this article isa must read.
The Aero Club of New England, the oldest aero club in the U.S., has bestowed the
GodfreyL.CabotAwardonEdYost.Cabotwasthefounderoftheclubandfirst
Americanpresidentof the FédérationAéronautique Internationale.The honorroll of
award recipients is even more exclusive than the National Aeronautic Association Elder
StatesmanAward.PreviousrecipientshaveincludedIgorSikorsky,GeneralCurtis
LeMay,DickRutan/Jeanne Yeager, andColonelJoe Kittinger.
After the award presentation Ed shared some stories with balloonists in a side room
fromhisearly ballooningdays. See JamesEllis’ report beginningon page 12.