View from the Board by Patrick Moore, Chair of the Board

The Oficial Newsletter for the Paciic Coast Aeronauts

Greetings PCA Members, Tues. 4/21 7pm By now you are aware that the PCA Safety Seminar is canceled, not Board of Directors postponed. The PCA Board of Directors voted to cancel the seminar due to Meeting (all may attend)

the uncertainty of scheduling a seminar before fall. There are several Wed. 5/6 7pm opportunities out there for on-line training, and I know the BFA offers Club Meeting certification that you have completed the course for your insurance company. Club meetings are held every Now, the thousand-dollar question is, when will we get to fly again? odd-numbered month

So, if you have already paid for the Safety Seminar through Member Planet, or mailed in the money, Linda Walton will be reaching out to you to find out what you want to do with your money. I personally payed my club dues and for the safety seminar, but I told Linda to consider my money for the Safety Seminar as a donation to the club.

For information and links to online safety seminar opportunities, see If you haven't already, page 3 herein.

BFA President Mark West offers some ideas on how to pass your ”Shelter in Place” time: “This is still safety seminar season. Many of you have attended already, but please consider this as an opportunity to learn more. We will be sending out information about what the BFA has available, as well as IN THIS ISSUE: working on getting this year’s online seminar out as soon as From the Board / Meeting Schedule 1-2 possible. I would also suggest that you get a few pilots online COVID-19: A Professional-Personal Perspective 2 and play “What if”. Talk through how you would handle Online Safety Seminar Options 3 different scenarios. Share your results on any of the FB sites A Message from the BFA 4 with the rest of the community. Junior Balloonist Camp News 5 None of us ever seem to have enough time for Preventive Upcoming Events (maybe?) 6 Maintenance – look up what you can do in your aircraft’s Passages - Larry Boucher 7 maintenance manual. Consider moistening your basket, Balloons For Sale 8 - 10 Article Writing Template 11 polishing or brushing leather, repairing leather, varnishing the PCA Award Categories 12 floor, cleaning and polishing your burner. Change the oil in Pilot Resources / Sunrise Calendar / Humor 13 your fan and give it a good going overlooking for cage damage Club and Membership Information 14 continued on page 2

View, continued and the condition of the prop. You may see the leading- pilots, crew and volunteers. This is all new ground for edge tip of the prop could stand to have a little varnish everyone.” to keep it sealed. Go through your trailer and make the changes that you think about when you are out flying Pat Moore but never find time to do. Chair of the PCA Board of Directors If you are an event organizer, communicate with other event organizers to talk about how to manage these P.S. If you want more information on COVID-19 and how it’s going to affect us, read on below. uncertain times with your host location, sponsors, hotels,

As many of you know, I work for the Office of indication, that number will be jumping signifi- Emergency Services in Monterey County, CA (filling cantly. Every Location/City/County has its own multiple administrative and coordinator roles), and timeline for hitting that peak in terms of impacting we are on the front line, hand-in-hand with Public their local healthcare systems. Flattening the curve Health and dozens of other Local/State/Federal has the effect of pushing that peak date out further, Government Agencies and Public/Private and non- which actually is a good thing for our Brave First profit partners and stakeholders. Responder Heroes (mind you, I have three First Responders in our family, all very much in harm’s This is the most unprecedented crisis we have way). ever seen in Emergency Management. At no time in our great country’s history has every level of City/ The guidelines are out there, and I won’t County/State/Tribal/and Federal Government all elaborate on those; they are very easy to find on been activated at one time across this great nation your local Public Health Department’s web page or for a common purpose. Most are activated to the the Center for Disease Control (CDC) webpage. highest level. Now I’ll grant you, the response and What I will say is TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY! instructions to their respective populations has Your life and those of your loved ones will depend been varied, due to the ever-evolving information on it. and unfortunately mostly based on politics (but I’m With that flattening of the curve occurring at not going to go down that rabbit hole), but that different times over the next several months across doesn’t change the reality that the facts are clear. the country, it makes it difficult to say when the What I do want to say to all of you — regardless “social distancing” will lighten up and we can try of what locations in California or in the other states and start the process of returning to the new in which we have members: this will touch everyone! normal. That is why we just can’t plan/predict when Whether it’s a direct or extended family member, a we could have our Safety Seminar anytime this year friend, or acquaintance. I receive daily Public and that is in part based on my knowledge of the Health reports from the State, Federal, and local models that I look at daily. Government briefings. This is not something that So, I send my prayers and best wishes to you and will go away with the season; it doesn’t matter your your loved ones to stay safe and stay well and do age, background, ethnicity, heritage, whatever. The everything to keep it that way. God Bless us all. latest projection is that over 50% of the population will, at some point down the road, test positive. Pat The symptoms go from mild or none, to unfortunately death, and if New York City is any

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Pacific Coast Aeronauts’ Safety Seminar, originally scheduled for March 28, was cancelled as have been other seminars, due to Government requirements that people do not publicly congregate in groups as long as the COVID-19 situation is in a fluid and growing status. However, there is still a need for annual and ongoing education. Renewal of insurance policies is necessary and to take opportunity of possible discounting of premiums, pilots must attend a safety seminar. Below are two options. You may know of other options and if you do, please pass it on to us at [email protected].

~ Editor

Due to the novel COVID-19 situation, many regional safety seminars have been postponed if not cancelled. While the impact of these cancellations is minuscule compared to what is happening on a global scale, the Academy wants to offer the ballooning community an opportunity to still earn safety seminar credit. If your local seminar is no longer available, T B T A is offering a free 100% online 7- hour self-paced seminar that can be completed whenever and wherever you are. Both Aviation Insurance Resources and RPS Balloon have agreed to offer seminar credit for those you take this course. In addition, sections of the course qualify for WINGS Credit.

After watching the videos, participants will be required to complete an assignment to earn credit.

This seminar is free. Simply follow the link below, register and you’re in.

If interested, you may sign up here: https://www.theballoontrainingacademy.com/course/safety-seminar/.

The 2020 BFA safety seminar will have online videos available starting April 25th. If you need seminar credit before then, use the 2019 seminar form (note that the latter is only available until April 15th). Seminar fees vary according to member and flying status. Start your registration at this link: https://bfa.net/2020-online-seminar. Seminar attendees must be BFA members in order to view the videos. Nonmembers can join the BFA online before registering if desiring to participate in the seminar the same day. For more educational seminars from the BFA, go to https://www.bfa.net/events5/continuing-education- seminars.

~ Editor

Junior

Balloon

Camps … are coming ... maybe, maybe not ...

From ‘DOWNWINDS CHASE’ Editor: On our most recent visit to the BFA website there does not appear to be news addressing the hopefully remote possibility that the camps will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 virus. If you’re interested in attending, volunteering or sponsoring a camper, we recommend you check the website frequently: https://bfa.net/divisions/junior-balloonists In the meantime, below is the basic information as originally published in recent editions of this newsletter and currently published on the BFA website: 2020 BALLOON CAMPS:  Southeastern Balloon Camp Gafney, SC June 14th-19th  Rio Grande Balloon Camp Albuquerque, NM July 11th - 16th  Register at: https://bfa.net/divisions/junior-balloonists.  Camp cost this year is $575 and a $75 deposit is required at registration.

Glorious Mornings for Aerostation will Return

Event information in this newsletter is compiled from several resources, and is not to be considered as an endorsement by the PCA, its respective officers or members.

Please advise us at [email protected] if you have new or different information than is posted below.

N N S S BFA 2020 O S S April 18, 2020 April 25, 2020 Highland Balloon Repair Videos become available to Dayton, NV registered BFA members on this date Katie Griggs: [email protected] Dean Carlton: [email protected]

9 A W W R H A B B F & K F May 15-18, 2020 May 29-31, 2020 Winnemucca, NV Grants Pass, OR

Jeff Haliczer, Pilot Coordinator Robert Raper: [email protected] [email protected]

S C H A B C 30 A G R B R August 28-30, 2020 September 11-13, 2020 Sonoma County Fairgrounds, CA San Rafael Regional Park [email protected] Reno, NV

Still “on” but if necessary will be rescheduled later in 2020. www.renoballoon.com Ticket purchases will be honored at the later date.

A I B F October 3-11, 2020 Balloon Fiesta Park Albuquerque, NM Jennifer Garcia: [email protected]

46 A CF & H A B F F October 24-25, 2020 Tammi Walton: [email protected] (559) 299-7363

Phillip “Larry” Boucher was born July 26, 1945, in Albuquerque, in the era of WWII. While on a naval destroyer, his father, Terry, received news of Larry’s birth. Larry grew up in Belen, and graduated from Belen High School at the young age of 16. He attended Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon, and eventually transferred to the NM School of Mines in Socorro, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics. He later earned a master degree in physics and electrical engineering. Larry worked for Global Star at Johnson Space Center in New Mexico, where he was involved with the satellite program. He later moved to San Jose, Calif., to work for Lockheed Martin’s global communication department, traveling to Europe, Africa and Central and South America to install ground satellite communications. While at Carnegie Tech, Larry became a piper in the Kiltie Band, playing the bagpipes throughout his life. His many hobbies included spelunking, mountain climbing and collecting Native American pottery, which he later donated to New Mexico State University. An avid hot air balloonist, Larry was one of the earliest pilots to fly in the A I B F, and taught pilot balloon safety classes nationally. He ultimately owned and flew nine balloons. Not just a pilot, Larry also crewed internationally for the beloved Darth Vader balloon. Larry served in the U.S. Army as a chaplain’s assistant SP5 in Vietnam. While enlisted, he received the N D S M, the B S M, V C M 60 D, and the V S M B S S. Larry was also a member of the M L, S R F M and the A A A A. After a valiant fight with Parkinson’s Disease brought on by Agent Orange exposure while in Vietnam, Larry passed away at 6 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2020, while residing at the Beehive Assisted Living Village in Albuquerque. Larry is preceded in death by his daughter, Dawna Leigh Boucher; his wife, Marijean Boucher; and his father, Mayo Terry Boucher. He is survived by his mother, Mary Catherine Lake Boucher, of Belen; his sister, Terri Sue Vrabel (Charles); niece, Kim Wickens (Mike); nephew, Robert Boucher; great-nephew, Connor Wickens; stepson, Jeff Balding; stepdaughter, Patty D’Amore (Marc); sister-in-law, Barbara Carmack; aunt, Eleanor Love; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A Viewing will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at the First Baptist Church in Belen, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Terrace Grove Cemetery in Belen. Pallbearers are Robert Boucher, Charles Vrabel, Mike Wickens, Connor Wickens, Dave Wallerstedt, David Lake, Robert Lake and John Love.

The family sincerely thanks Larry’s many friends and relatives for their love and friendship. A special thanks to the staff at Beehive Village for their outstanding care during Larry’s last years. Special recognition to Chris, Carlos and Chef Brenda for their exceptional attention to Larry, allowing him to face this tragic disease with dignity. Please sign Larry’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com.

F O, J H, P/O E P B T —R: ‘H T F’ is for sale as I am not utilizing it enough to warrant keeping it and need to move on to other projects in my life. The Shoe has been at very few events and I have only done one ‘free ﬂight’ due to the fact of transporting the crew, but it does ﬂy well and is fun to see in the air!

A B: “High Top Flier” (of course you can change the name). 2001 Cameron ‘Shoe 90’, with US Standard Type Airworthiness Certiﬁcation (NOT experimental) built in Bristol, England, and accepted anywhere in the world. It has less than 150 hours (4 previous Cameron ‘Shoe’

balloons went 500+ hours.  Annual is current until May 2019.  Clean Title and Registration (NO issues with the ‘N’ number).  40,000 Cu. Ft. with the lift of a 90,000.  Custom Cart (Shoe Box) built on a 1200# garden cart, with solid tires (from Tractor Supply), easy to load wooden box which is steerable with the attached handle. Envelope bag included if you wanted to ‘bag’ it. Envelope and cart weigh about 1000 pounds. T T: 2000 Wells Cargo 6X10 Trailer TW-101 (rear cargo doors) with 30” side door.  8-foot Aluma shield awning on the side, rolls up so the awning is protected by aluminum slats.  New tires, bearings recently replaced (preventative).  Set up to haul this system, with a detachable ramp to move the ‘Shoe Box’ inside. T B: Older (refurbished) Raven/Aerostar Classic basket with all new HDPE Skids, new reinforced corner brackets and new rope handles.  Dual HPII burners; 2 lay-down 20-gallon tanks recently certiﬁed; new hoses in 2017; miscellaneous other stuﬀ that goes with the bottom end; drop line; instrument bracket, etc.  Have the FMS (Flight Manual Supplement) from Cameron to approve the Aerostar under the Cameron ‘Shoe 90.’ I A: ‘High Top Flier’ web domain through Go Daddy, paid until 2020. I never did anything with the web site. It goes to the new owner; I assume it is transferable.

C: Complete system including all of the above: $35,000. Envelope only: $30,000. Trailer: $3,000. Basket: $2,000.

 Only serious oﬀers will be entertained.  E-mail at: [email protected]  Or call me at (775) 853-4109 home number/land line (please don't text; the machine is always on).

We are actively looking for a buyer for our thermal airship system! It is a GEFA FLUG AS105 GD-4. Gondola (Car) The primary envelope has less than 20 hours on it and the entire system has just 2:40 hours on it since last annual inspection. It is clean (we always use tarps, even on green grass) as you can see in the included images, taken September 2017. It is ready to ly on delivery. The airship comes with all accessory equipment necessary to inlate and ly including the tarps and trailer. A second envelope is included; it Primary envelope (approx. 20 hours) Secondary envelope needs some work but is serviceable or a resource for parts. Included are three 15-gallon Titanium fuel tanks and one 15-gallon Stainless Steel fuel tank. It also comes with 10 airship main banners (used) in their own bags and two unused nose banners. The fuel hose panel seen in the pictures is mounted in the trailer.

Banners & Fuel Adapter Panel

The pictured truck is NOT included but can transport the trailer and equipment to a buyer anywhere in the contiguous USA if desired.

Added bonus: Trailer 8.5 feet by 20 feet I can teach a new pilot or be available for hire as a pilot. Please share this with anyone you think may have interest or contact me any time for more information. Also, more info at: http://www.cheersaerialmedia.com/forsale.htm Thanks, $120,000 David Wakeield Offers Considered [email protected]

B T

Custom Built

Triangular Basket $8,000 with Woven Rainbow Accent

ENVELOPE: 1993 Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 with 395 Hours  Basket: Triangular with Woven Rainbow Accent  Burner: Mirage

C-B E W C T C:  5 hp Inflator Fan: Mach Zero  Utility & Tool Box  Rug & Blankets  Blankets protect grass on basket and grass under burner from being damaged  Rug under fan keeps rocks, rocks and other debris out of envelope.  Spare Tire  Tether Ropes: 3@ 100 ft.  Tether Harness  Tie-off Ropes: 1 @ 15' & 1 @ 24'  E-Z Squeeze  Helium Tank  Tanks(4) - with Fuel  Large Parachute Tarp: Lightweight, Custom Made, Bagged  1 Aircraft Radio: I-Com IC-A6 Transceiver  3 Hand Held Radios

Orval Choate / 714-343-9317 / [email protected]

We continue to include this helpful tool so that it’s available to our members and friends should you become inspired to share your ballooning experiences. Whether it’s about a first-ever flight or crewing experience or attending/participating in a balloon rally, the prompts below serve to help you organize and express your ! experience.

Readers of this newsletter relish reading about ballooning rallies that took place in different locales. If you write and add pictures, others can live vicariously through your gift of time and recounting your experiences. – all because you shared! Use the bullet prompts below to help you write a paragraph or two ‒ or more! These are just suggestions — use as many or few as you like. Feel free to add some new prompts (and please, let us know what you’ve added).

 Name, dates and location of the event.  How many balloons attended the rally?  Did you bring crew with you or were you able to be assigned some local crew?  Did the weather cooperate for all the flights?  What were your flight tracks like?  Which flight did you enjoy the most? Did you see some interesting sights or land formations that were especially striking from the air?  Special passengers or landowners?  Did you Glow?  Were there any special shape balloons?  Did you tailgate after flying or did you all head to breakfast?  Were there other adventures after flying? Hiking, rafting, sightseeing, historic sights?  How were your accommodations?  Any other special aspects or thoughts about your trip?  Anything else?  Please share some photos as well.

[email protected]. The newsletter editors will happily answer any questions you might have about submitting your article and “tidy up” any spelling or glaring grammatical issues. Most importantly? Sharing your experiences will brighten the day for our readers.

Balloon Event Writing Template - v. 2/2020

PCA Award Categories and Criteria

Awards are to be advertised throughout the year and awarded at the Safety Seminar in the Spring of each year. Not every award will be issued every year unless there are nominations.

Something to Think About: As you go about your typical ballooning activities, are there aeronauts

who deserve your nomination for any award(s)?

Pilot Award

a) Purpose of this award is to acknowledge outstanding accomplishments or extraordinary contribution to the sport of ballooning by a pilot. b) Award Type: Trophy award. c) Criteria: Outstanding personal or national best, such as a long flight or high altitude, etc.

Help with organization or bringing in new crew or enthusiasts to the sport. Sharing the love of the sport with the community.

Crew of the Year Award

a) Purpose: To acknowledge a crew member who is not a current member and has been an outstanding crew for area pilots and to expose them to a broader world of ballooning.

b) Award: PCA Membership and BFA membership.

c) Criteria: Person is selected by each pilot submitting a name of a crew person that has shown to be outstanding crew for them at rallies and flying in their home area. d) Name is drawn from a hat at the Safety Seminar.

PCA Membership Award a) Purpose: Awarded to someone (crew or pilot or balloon enthusiast) to introduce them to the PCA. b) Award: 1-year PCA membership. c) Criteria: Each PCA member can submit the name of someone who deserves this award. d) Name is drawn from a hat.

Life Time Award a) Purpose: Acknowledge a longtime contributor to the sport of Ballooning and the PCA. b) Award: Lifetime membership to the PCA and a trophy award. c) Criteria: Given to a member who has supported the sport of ballooning by spreading the word about ballooning by promoting an event, organizing an event and contributing to the sport of ballooning.

Above and Beyond Award a) Purpose: Acknowledge someone who has given outstanding effort to promote ballooning or the PCA in the last year. b) Award: Trophy Award. c) Criteria: To be given to a member of the PCA who has contributed to the growth of the PCA and/or has contributed to the sport of ballooning.

 Tues. 4/21 7pm Board Meeting  Wed. 5/6 7pm Club Meeting If you’re interested in acquiring these

resources, or have some favorite ones Our Conference Calls are FREE to share, please contact Linda Walton and on video meetings, we get to see at [email protected] or all our wild and crazy hairdos! [email protected]. Thanks, Dave Wakefield !

“Crewing “Crew Safety Quick Essentials” Reference,” Excellent, well-organized also by book with great details Schwontkowski & about all aspects of Murray, available crewing, authored by for $3.50 each including postage. Gordon Schwontkowski and Alyson Murray. (Contact the PCA for quantity Copyright 2008, discounts) paperback. He correctly identified this pictured item $18 each or 2 for $35. as the ABRESCO Traveling Trophy!

SIX MONTH SUNRISE CALENDAR

Sunrise Chart for Tracy, CA (Morgan Hill will be approximately 1 minute later)

Jan 2020 5 7:21 Feb 2020 2 7:09 Mar 2020 1 6:35 12 7:21 9 7:02 8 7:26 19 7:18 16 6:55 15 7:16 26 7:14 23 6:46 21 7:05 29 6:55

Apr 2020 5 6:44 May 2020 3 6:07 Jun 2020 7 5:44 12 6:34 10 6:00 14 5:43 19 6:24 17 5:54 21 5:44 26 6:15 24 5:49 28 5:47 31 5:46

2020 PCA C Board Year BoD Club Name Committee Chairperson Assistants Position Term Ends Position Chairperson, Awards Bob Locklin Jeff Downs Patrick Moore 2020 Secretary Host: Christmas Party Linda Walton President, The Coffman’s David Wakefield President 2021 Co-Secretary Junior Ballooonists Jeanne Anson Tom Sharpee Vice President Co-Chairs: Jeanne David Wakefield Linda Walton Treasurer 2020 Treasurer Newsletter Anson, Linda Walton And All & Suzanne Seiler Members! Board Member, Suzanne Seiler 2021 Co-Secretary Jeanne Anson, Co-Secretary Website/Facebook David Wakefield Linda Walton

Alta Fernandes Board Member 2020 WHAMOBASS Currently Open

Bob Locklin Board Member (AL) 2020

Jeff Downs Board Member 2021

P B: D T P Y F The PCA is a non-profit incorporated organization. Information contained Tracy AWOS 209-831-4335 within this issue of the D C is the most up-to-date and San Martin AWOS 408-918-7724 correct information available at the time of publication. The PCA, its Flight Service 800-992-7433 Officers and Directors are not responsible for the accuracy of the If you have a favorite flight planning resource, material enclosed herein. Opinions expressed in the D C send us a note at [email protected] and we’ll are solely those of the individual authors and should not be perceived to publish it here. be those of the PCA, the Editor, Publisher, or its leadership.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL Membership & Merchandise: Cost: Please make checks payable to:

 Pilot or Crew: $20.00 Pacific Coast Aeronauts

 Family Membership: $30.00 Mail to:  For Postal Delivery of the Newsletter: $5.00 Linda Walton—Treasurer  PCA Pins: 1 for $3.00 or 2 for $5.00 Pacific Coast Aeronauts  WHAMOBASS #50 Pins: $10.00 14938 Camden Ave., Suite 76  Shipping for Pins: $1.00 San Jose, CA 95124 TOTAL ENCLOSED: $______

Please print clearly. You may use this form to update your contact information as well. _____Pilot _____Crew Name (s): ______

Address: ______(Number) (Street) (Apt) (City) (State) (Zip)

Phone — please check preferred:  (Home) ______ (Mobile) ______Email: ______