Congratulations:
To the following organization members on recently attaining Private Pilot
certificates:
Mary Beth Young, Valorie Calef, Todd Nixon, Donna Sowden, Bill Matkowsky
To the following organization members on recently attaining Commercial Pilot
certificates:
Karen Candiani
Balloonists & Historians Unite for TV
PBS television station WGBH - Boston spent a day in Allentown, PA
filming Scott Kelley's gas (helium) filled balloon, "Private Eye". The footage
will be used as part of a segment on "Africans in America", a four part series
that traces the black experience from the 1600's to the Civil War. The film taken in
Allentown will be used as the opening scene for the third episode.
The day of filming began at 5am with the assembly and inflation of the 19,000 cubic foot
netted balloon and concluded at sunset. Mr. Kelley was assisted by a dozen or so
balloonists (pilots and crew) from nearby PA and NJ. The balloon was released, flying to
an altitude of 75 feet. A drop line was thrown, allowing the crew to recover the system
for (numerous) retries. At mid day the balloon launched for several hours of free flight
over Allentown ending at Queen City Airport.
The first manned balloon flight in America occurred in 1793 when Jean-Pierre Blanchard
piloted a hydrogen filled balloon from Philadelphia to Deptford, NJ.
Congratulations
To the following organization members on recently attaining Commercial Pilot
certificates:
Diane Reim
Ten Years Ago ..From The GEBA Newsletter
Maureen Mullen (Lynch) completed a world record in an AA 2 gas balloon on Sept. 27, 1987,
for 9 hours 7 minutes aloft
First annual holiday awards banquet held in December 1987 in Allentown, PA. Rodger Kell wins the "GEBA Cup" for competition with 11,260 points.
Bob Sparks announces his airship would fly before Thanksgiving.
Interview with 82 year old Connie Wolf, by Philadelphia Inquirer describes her idea of building 70 foot tall Liberty Bell balloon to celebrate the bicentennial of the signing of the US Constitution. She was the first woman and American to pilot a gas balloon over the Swiss Alps. Note: the balloon was built and is currently owned by Bob Dicks.
Other Items of Interest
Landowner alert: Pilots flying in the Pattenburg area of Hunterdon County, NJ need to be
aware of an ostrich farm (red zone). Contact the landowner committee or Jon Lyman for details.
A possible champagne shortage is being predicted prior to the year 2000, according to the "Restaurant Wine" newsletter, with prices becoming "absurd" in 1999.
Dedicated Crew - A Scare Commodity
Written by Todd Nixon, this full page article details the efforts Todd & (dad) Barry
have taken to involve new people in ballooning
and thus have adequate crew for flying. Most notably, they offered an evening adult
education course in ballooning at a local health
club. This has resulted in some small, but positive results.
Winter Flying
An article and photograph by Mark Schilling recounted his experience with winter flying
near Ottawa, Canada. The conditions included
rain that froze, sub-zero temperatures, 10+ knot winds, and flights of nearly 25 miles.
The ice covered ground provided an interesting
high wind landing situation, with the expected "drag" turning into a sled-like
slide.
Safety Seminar
Sue West reported on the Carolina Balloon Association safety program held in Charlotte,
NC. Among the training exercises included
turning off the "spit: valve on a burning propane tank.
Congratulations
To Debbie Harding, who was successful in her attempt to be the first woman to fly over the
North Pole. Details are available on their web site: www.air-ventures.com
Ten Years Ago ..From The GEBA Newsletter
Request to US Postal Service for a commemorative stamp honoring 200th anniversary of
balloon flight in America (FAVIA) was turned down. Elvis was more fortunate.
Other Items of Interest
Quakertown Balloon & Air Festival (June 5th &6th), in Quakertown, PA will host a
GEBA Balloon Crew Competition. Four crew members and 1 pilot will cold inflate a balloon, and upon a judge's signal will
deflate and pack. First balloon in the
bag wins. For details contact Jack Edling, GEBA Board member.
The GEBA picnic will be September 12th at Alexandria Field, Pittstown. It will be in
conjunction with the Spina Bifida flyout. Refer to the social committee page for details.
GEBA Products
Shirts, sweatshirts and other fantastic ballooning items
are available. Contact Dorothy Gergely to arrange purchase. Her phone
number is available in the GEBA directory.
Ten Years Ago ..From The GEBA Newsletter
Barry Nixon appointed as GEBA representative to NJ State Aviation System PLAN Study.
Malcom Forbes new shape balloon (Fabrege Egg) reported ready to be unveiled.
Remember to cover landowner relations with your crew on EVERY flight.
Other Items of Interest
Balloon promotes Deptford Police. GEBA member Harry Collison's balloon is now carrying a 30x20 banner of the Deptford's
Police Dept logo. Deptford is where the First Air Voyage In America balloon flight ended, after a 46 minute
trip from Philadelphia, over 200 years ago. At the present time over a dozen officers are actively involved with the balloon - what a
great way to get a chase crew.
Name The GEBA Newsletter
Over 3 dozen suggestions have been submitted in the contest to name the organization's
newsletter. A sampling of the entries include:
Ground Chatter
Above It All
GEBA Briefings
The GEBA Pibal
The distinguished panel of judges will soon decide on the new name
Playboy & Ballooning - Purrr-fect Together
GEBA members Ray Horan & Al Donst were recently
involved in a photo shoot for Playboy magazine, with their balloons providing
a beautiful backdrop for the latest issue. It was a tough job - but Ray & Al were
"up" to the task.
GEBA Products
Shirts, sweatshirts and other fantastic ballooning items
are available. Contact Dorothy Gergely to arrange purchase. Her phone
number is available in the GEBA directory.
Ten Years Ago ..From The GEBA Newsletter
Some crew members have indicated they feel "left out" at various
balloon rallies. Suggestion was made that they be some way to identify them, as well as
pilots, sponsors, etc. Hmmm - seems the more things change - the more they stay the same,
doesn't it?
"The only thing dumber than sheep are turkeys" (based on, SAT results ???)
Other Items of Interest
The following individuals have tossed their hats into the
political ring, in hopes of being elected to the GEBA Board of Directors: The election
will occur at the November 1st meeting. Those who cannot attend should contact the club
secretary (Mark Schilling) for an absentee ballot.
Linda Allen - Crew member - Stockton, NJ
James Aller - Commercial Pilot - Lansdale, PA
Gene Burnstein - Private Pilot - Brick, NJ
Fred Grotenhuis - Commercial Pilot - Easton, PA
Uli Krahenbuhl - Commercial Pilot - Belle Mead, NJ
Rich Lanning - Private Pilot - Lansdale, PA
Bob Mueller - Commercial Pilot, East Brunswick, NJ
Keith Standley, Jr. - Crew member - Hillsborough, NJ
Of this list, 3 individuals will be elected to the Board
As a famous Chicago politician once said; "vote early - and often..."
Name The GEBA Newsletter
Congratulations to Jan Schilling for submitting the winning name for the newsletter,
"Skywriter", in
addition to receiving a club sweatshirt, Jan has been awarded a no-expense paid trip
around the world on a cargo ship (just kidding).
GEBA Products
Shirts, sweatshirts and other fantastic ballooning items
are available. Contact Dorothy Gergely to arrange purchase. Her phone
number is available in the GEBA directory.
Ten Years Ago ..From The GEBA Newsletter
Dan Decker comments, "As we fly, we must be constantly
aware that the public's view of us is changing. We are no longer the novelty we once were,
especially to many property owners. ....These people are NOT hostile to balloons, but they
have heard stories or had experiences which make them wary.."
W. Barry Nixon is appointed as GEBA's official representative to the NJ State Aviation
System PLAN Study. The purpose is to recommend ways to accommodate aviation growth and
promotion in NJ over the next 10 years.
GEBA is granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Plans were made for GEBA second annual dinner dance in Allentown, PA
Other Items of Interest
Tony Fairbanks - Renowned Balloonist - 1906-1998
Condolences to family and friends of Tony Fairbanks, who passed away on October
15, 1998 at the age of 92. GEBA and the entire ballooning community mourn his passing.
Some of Tony's achievements in his 67 years of gas and hot air ballooning include:
1931 - First gas balloon flight from Cleveland, OH to Buffalo, NY
1932 - Founding member - Cleveland Balloon Club
1952 - Balloon Club of America formed with 11 members, Brookhaven, PA - including Tony
1955 - Tony & Connie Wolf go to Hollywood to provide technical assistance on flying
"LaCoquette" in the movie "Around The World In 80 Days"
1956 - Tony becomes first designated balloon pilot examiner appointed by FAA
1959 - Tony flies "LaCoquette" across Lake Michigan at night
1961 - Tony is a founding member of the Balloon Federation of America and it's first
treasurer
1968 - Tony's first gas flight over the Alps
1969-80 - Subsequent flights over the Alps and hot air flights in "Ladybug"
1992 - Tony, at age 86, wins the "Oldest Active Balloon Pilot in US" award
Notable quotes: "Every chance I get!" is the response to the question (at age
86) when asked how often he flies. Let me know if a balloon needs a pilot or a chase crew needs a map reader. I'm ready! -
(at age 90)
GEBA Products
Shirts, sweatshirts and other fantastic ballooning items
are available. Contact Dorothy Gergely to arrange purchase. Her phone number is available in the GEBA directory.