Did you know that I have a perfect record so far, each takeoff has a corresponding landing. How do your passengers react to the somewhat random landings of a hot air balloon?

 

Would it surprise you to know I don't fly with winds over 5-6 MPH, and the biggest concern they have is getting shoes wet in the dew in the fields of a morning? (I plot lift off upwind from projected landing zones... and I do mean zones.... my steerage is using friction layers...I ascend and descend to find favorable steerage. We put up a "piball" or pilot balloon and plot wind directions in 200 ft height increments prior to committing to a launch site)

 

You do things correctly and thoughtfully, excellent piloting!

Do you find those whose idea of a planned landing includes a bunch of people driving like mad on back roads in an old E-350 Ford van chasing the balloon to be off-putting?

 

Why do "crew members" take offense to getting a phone call at 4:30 in the morning telling them to roll outta bed and get to the launch field? (I have to have light winds from the right directions, crew available and willing and time off for me to fly.... any one of those falls through and I'm left looking to the skys dreaming)

 

Probably for the same reason the guy at the FBO gets irritated when I call him before dawn because someone took the keys to the tug and now my plane is blocked in the hanger, some people huh?

 

Do I need to amend my crew operations manual as follows with "In case of Flight Call grumbling, swearing, and general moodiness; Crew beatings will commence immediately, and continue until Crew morale improves to the satisfaction of the P.I.C."?

 

What is the definition of slavery??

 

Wait a minute...Didn't they volunteer as crew?
(making sure the belaying pin is outta sight)

How To Launch A Balloon

A video I shot while I was outta flying for a while (post-op surgeon's orders)

 

Gosh I miss the good old days, whatever happened to "the beatings will continue until morale improves"?

 

All this talk is making me HUNGRY, had Ox tail soup yesterday whats for lunch today ??