The Crownlines

The Newsletter of the National Capital Balloon Club Le journal du Club de montgolfières de la Capitale nationale

Volume 21 Number 5 October 2013

Cover Photo: St-Jean-sur-Richelieu from the air, courtesyPage of Dale Pelky Crownlines October 2013

Table of Contents Message from the Editor

Message from the Editor…..…………………….. 2 The seasons are changing, with lovely hues of red, orange, and yellows 2013 Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships. 3 to greet the eyes of pilots and passengers alike. The fall weather offers fantastic flight opportunities. The temperatures are a bit more moderate The Summer in Pictures…………………………..4 from the stifling heat and humidity of the summer, the days are shorter Balloons In Science………………………………...7 so we get to sleep in a little before those morning flights, but the turn- In the Media………………………………………..12 around time between a morning and evening flight is shorter too. With each morning, the cool crisp air reminds us that the next season is ap- Balloon in Education…………… ………………..32 proaching, so get out there and enjoy this season before you have to Legalities….………………………………………..34 dress like the Michelin family in order to enjoy your time outdoors! 2014 Winter Outlook……………….……………..36 This edition of the newsletter is jammed packed—mostly because the FAI News……………………….…………………..39 “long” break in the summer where I don’t do anything other than fly and Transport Canada News…………………………..40 work! So, I have saved up a collection of articles from various sources Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Attempt……..…..41 for your reading pleasure. Always feel free to provide me feedback on what you would like to see more of, or less of. And of course—please Membership Renewal……………………………..61 submit your own articles!

...Sandra

Page 2 Crownlines October 2013 Competition B.C. man heading to Brazil for balloon championship

Read more: http:// calgary.ctvnews.ca/b-c-man- heading-to-brazil-for-balloon- championship- 1.1480667#ixzz2hRWjfa7g Colleen Schmidt, CTV Calgary Published Wednesday, October 2, 2013 2:13PM MDT

The 2013 Canadian Hot Air Balloon competition was held in High River over the weekend and the winner will represent Canada at the world championship in South America next year. The event was put on by the Heritage Inn Hotel and TD Bank and attracted hot air balloon pilots from across the country. David Gleed from Langley, B.C. floated away with the top honour and will be travelling to Sao Carlos, Brazil for the 21st FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in July of 2014. Second place went to Dan Balinsky from Grand Prairie and Dale Lang of Taber was third. For more information on the worlds, visit the FAI website.

Page 3 Crownlines October 2013 The Summer in Pictures Cancelled— Again

We became quite familiar with this sight, as flight after flight was cancelled due to weather at Festivent 2013.

Rainbow Delight

After the showers we were treated to lovely rainbows in St-Jean-sur- Richelieu while waiting for the weather to blow through before the evening flight.

Page 4 Crownlines October 2013 The Summer in Pictures Fog

With all that moisture…. Comes the misty foggy mornings….

Take Flight!

Eventually, the skies clear, and we get the flight we are all waiting for—clear blue skies and light winds in Sussex, New Brusnswick.

Page 5 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Science

Clockwise from top left:

Hummingbird—RVB Balloons Scenic Sussex!—Sussex, New Brunswick Alain Bard’s balloon—St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Balloons inflating—St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Jean Drouin making pre-flight preparations with his crew —St-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Page 6 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Science Solar Montgolfieres http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/adv_tech/ balloons/mars_mongolfier.htm Solar Montgolfieres are light- weight balloons that could be used for controlled, low velocity impacts of Martian payloads or for exciting imaging and science balloon missions at Mars, as well as at Jupiter and Saturn. These balloons have an open bottom and would be filled with ambient atmosphere as they fall when deployed during atmospheric entry. They wouild be quickly heated by the sun and can pro- vide partial buoyancy to soft- land payloads. After dropping off the payload, the balloon could then re-ascend with a 1-kg gondola that performs imaging and science for the remainder of the day. The required balloon mass to float a 50 kg gondola at Mars is only about 47 kg, and this same Montgolfiere could be used as a parachute to soft-land a 420 kg payload on Mars at 15 m/sec vertical impact speed. Montgolfieres have a big advantage in that numerous small leaks do not impair performance, since leaking air is quickly re- placed and re-heated by the sun.

These "Montgolfiere" balloons are named after the two 18th-century French brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier, who were the first to fly hot-air balloons. Solar-heated balloons are nothing new. In fact, they are commercially available as novelty items and have been banned in some countries due to inter- ference with commercial aviation. Since the 1970's, the French have flown over forty Montgolfieres in the Earth's stratosphere (10 mbar - 40 mbar). The longest flight lasted 69 days and encircled the Earth twice. All Montgolfiere testing to date, prior to this JPL effort, has involved balloons that are gently launched from the ground, using either hot air or helium to provide initial buoyancy. The present JPL test effort, which was be- gun in 1997, has concentrated on deploying Montgolfieres from the air, as would be done on a mission to Mars.

Military Montgolfieres and non-heated Montgolfieres, which are actually parachute balloons (a.k.a. "paraballoons") have also flown frequently, and have been used extensively by the U.S. Air Force as pilot ejection seat decelerators and to slowly descend bombs or bright observation lights during low altitude bomb- ing runs. The testing being conducted by JPL attempts to combine the high-strength deployment requirements of paraballoons with the lightweight, cold strength requirements of stratospheric Montgolfiere balloons. JPL has recently found altitude control systems that allow precise altitude control. The novel systems would allow balloons to collect and examine multiple ground samples over long distances for periods up to 90 days if deployed at a Martian pole in the summer. They also would allow very long-life balloons on Jupiter and Saturn that can dip into the lower water/ammonia clouds and survive the nights (~5 hours) by climbing very high be- fore sunset. Page 7 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Science Giant balloon to study Comet ISON By Amanda Barnett, CNN September 29, 2013 -- Updated 1851 GMT (0251 HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/27/tech/comet-ison-balloon-mission/index.html

CNN) -- Exploring the heavens with spaceships and fancy orbiting telescopes like the Hubble is pretty routine stuff for NASA. But the space agency is going low-tech to get a good look at an eagerly anticipated comet. The space agency plans to launch a balloon -- yes, a balloon -- to study Comet ISON, the much-hyped comet that many hope will put on a big sky show in coming months. Astronomers are scrambling to figure out ways to learn more about the comet, and that's where the balloon comes in. This isn't the kind of balloon you buy for kids at a party store, but they do have some things in common. NASA says its scientific balloons are made of polyethylene film like the material in plastic bags, and it will be filled with helium, just like a party balloon. But the NASA balloons can carry a payload weighing 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms), or about the weight of three small cars. It has a gondola to carry the instruments. Some similarballoons can fly up to 26 miles high and stay for up to two weeks. The 671-foot-tall balloon that will monitor ISON is called BRRISON, or Balloon Rapid Response for ISON. Accord- ing to NASA, it will float about 120,000 feet above Earth to observe the comet -- and other science targets -- using a telescope and other instruments. It is expected to stay up from nine to 11 hours. "By ascending above 99.5% of the Earth's atmosphere, BRRISON will be able to study the materials within the comet," Andy Cheng, principal investigator, said on BRISSON's website. "It's possible that water and organic chemicals on comets may have played an important role in the evolution of life on Earth." The launch, from NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, is targeted for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, weather permit- ting. Comet ISON is nearing Mars on its way toward the sun and will fly about 730,000 miles above the sun's surface on November 8. If it survives, it could brighten and put on a big show as it passes Earth's orbit on its way back to the outer reaches of the solar system. Comet enthusiasts hope they will be able to see it without binocu- lars or telescopes. Its closest approach to Earth would be December 26, and it could be visible from the Northern Hemisphere for weeks in early 2014. Things to know about Comet ISON The comet was discovered by Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok in September 2012. It is named after their night-sky survey program, the International Scientific Optical Network, a group of observatories in 10 countries organized to track objects in space. Amateur astronomers already are posting pictures and making calculations about the comet's future. For those who want to try to track Comet ISON themselves, NASA has some tips on its Comet ISON website. Page 8 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Science Why Doesn't The Hot-Air Balloon Car Exist? http://jalopnik.com/why-doesnt-the-hot-air-balloon-car-exist-1388220807? utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jalopnik%2Ffull+(Jalopnik)

When people imagine what the future will be like, they inevitably envision that one day we'll all have flying cars. Let's forget that this…Read… No matter how many rational arguments you make or how much reminding you do about how bad people normally drive on the ground, there will always be those who dream of a flying car. Which is why I'm so surprised I've never seen anyone try anything like my terrible idea here: a hot-air balloon car. So I've got one of these for a few days. A Campagna T-Rex. Anyone have anything in particular they'd like me to find out about this crazy… The idea came to me as I've been testing out the Campagna T-Rex this week. That three wheeler weighs only 1100 lbs, and is classified as a motorcycle, freeing it from all manner of safety regu- lations and whatnot. I was thinking about other possibilities of such a lightweight but street-legal platform when it hit me: this thing could fly. Well, maybe float is more accurate. There's so many issues with flying cars — complex mecha- nisms, skill level and training, and the fundamental difficulty of piloting a heavier-than-air craft — that maybe the answer to the flying car puzzle is to accept that it will only be a novelty, some- thing for enjoyment. If that's the case, you can lose all of the complex, dangerous parts of flying a fixed-wing aircraft and look instead at the most calm, leisurely sort of air-travel. Ballooning.P I'll admit, I know very little about ballooning. I have no idea where all the hard-core balloonist bars are in LA, and I've never even been up in one. So I'm perfectly qualified to design a hot-air balloon car. Here's what I'm thinking: the car itself would be a three-wheeler, something like a cross between the T-Rex and a Velorex. That would let it stay very light and avoid all the heavy safety and other equipment needed by a real four-wheeled car. I'm thinking a strong, light tube-frame structure, with outer panels of thin plastic or possibly even a fabric. Motorcycle running gear would be used, most likely something less potent (and heavy) than the T-Rex' 160 HP BMW inline-6, but still with enough oomph to haul the folded balloon envelope when needed. Well, maybe float is more accu- rate. There's so many issues with flying cars — complex mecha- nisms, skill level and training, and the fundamental difficulty of pilot- ing a heavier-than-air craft — that maybe the answer to the flying car puzzle is to accept that it will only be a novelty, something for enjoy- ment. If that's the case, you can

Page 9 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Science lose all of the complex, dangerous parts of flying a fixed-wing aircraft and look instead at the most calm, leisurely sort of air-travel. Ballooning.P I'll admit, I know very little about ballooning. I have no idea where all the hard-core balloonist bars are in LA, and I've never even been up in one. So I'm perfectly qualified to design a hot-air balloon car. Here's what I'm thinking: the car itself would be a three-wheeler, something like a cross be- tween the T-Rex and a Velorex. That would let it stay very light and avoid all the heavy safety and other equipment needed by a real four-wheeled car. I'm thinking a strong, light tube-frame structure, with outer panels of thin plastic or possibly even a fabric. Motorcycle running gear would be used, most likely something less potent (and heavy) than the T-Rex' 160 HP BMW inline-6, but still with enough oomph to haul the folded balloon envelope when needed. A fairly common balloon envelope size for a 4-6 passenger balloon holds about 105,000- 120,000 cubic feet of hot air, which gives it the ability to lift between 1650-2400 lbs. That's plenty for what I have in mind. The car would be a two-seater only, and with passengers and gear I think can come in at about 1500 lbs, using the weight of the T-Rex as a benchmark. The only extra equipment needed would be a pair of burners to heat the balloon's lifting air, and I'm imagining that those would be fed from the same gas tank that the car's engine uses as well. It's possible these could be propane fed as they usually are, but to save weight I don't see why gasoline-burning heaters couldn't be used. Unless, of course, my ignorance is a big factor here. The car would have a special rack to carry the folded envelope when not aloft. I think this should be possible, based on pictures of folded balloons in trailers I've seen, but this is the big- gest question mark, really. Being able to easily transport everything on the ground or the air will be key, as it will open up a lot of freedom to the daring balloon-car owner. The weight of the folded balloon may be an issue for the smallish engine the car would have, as well as some likely handling issues as well. But I'm still in the early stages here — once I get that Kickstarter going and get some eager balloonist/automotive engineers on board, I'm sure this'll all work out

A fairly common bal- loon envelope size for a 4-6 passenger bal- loon holds about 105,000-120,000 cu- bic feet of hot air, which gives it the ability to lift between 1650-2400 lbs. That's plenty for what I have in mind. The car would be a two- seater only, and with

Page 10 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Science passengers and gear I think can come in at about 1500 lbs, using the weight of the T-Rex as a benchmark. The only extra equipment needed would be a pair of burners to heat the balloon's lifting air, and I'm imagining that those would be fed from the same gas tank that the car's engine uses as well. It's possible these could be propane fed as they usually are, but to save weight I don't see why gasoline-burning heaters couldn't be used. Unless, of course, my ignorance is a big factor here. The car would have a special rack to carry the folded envelope when not aloft. I think this should be possible, based on pictures of folded balloons in trailers I've seen, but this is the big- gest question mark, really. Being able to easily transport everything on the ground or the air will be key, as it will open up a lot of freedom to the daring balloon-car owner. The weight of the folded balloon may be an issue for the smallish engine the car would have, as well as some likely handling issues as well. But I'm still in the early stages here — once I get that Kickstarter going and get some eager ballonist/automotive engineers on board, I'm sure this'll all work out. The I-Tec Maverick, a roadworthy dune buggy powered by a Subaru engine, has won the first certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for… The idea seems so obvious, I feel like I must be missing some key element that makes these im- possible. I've been looking around, but so far I haven't seen anything online of anyone trying something like this, save for a few whimsical drawings or art installations. There's a flying car/ glider with a similar design, but no balloon. The possibilities are very appealing for a recreational vehicle. Drive out to some pretty country, unpack the balloon, float on up, enjoy the view, drop down at some quaint little sloppy joe shack, drive back home or somewhere new — what's not to like here? Okay. Time to tell me why I'm an idiot!

Page 11 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Turkish balloons rise for freedom in Egypt, Syria and Palestine 22 August 2013 /MURAT ŞİŞMAN, NEVŞEHİR http://www.todayszaman.com/news-324252-balloons-rise-for-freedom-in-egypt-syria-and-palestine.html

Three hot air balloons were flown from Cappadocia, the famous tourist destination in the central Turkish prov- ince of Nevşehir, on Thursday as a call for freedom in Egypt, Syria and Palestine, an event organized by the youth unit of the Human and Civilization Movement (İnsan ve Medeniyet Hareketi), Turkish news agencies reported on Thursday.

Hot air balloons took off from the fairy chimneys known in Turkish as ―peri bacaları‖ on Thursday morning, an act aimed at drawing attention to those living in Egypt and Syria, where civil unrest has been raging for more than two years and thousands of innocent people have lost their lives.

According to news agencies, the event took place at the hot air balloon takeoff area in the town of Göreme on Thursday morning, and many local and international activists from İstanbul, Kayseri and Nevşehir provinces were present at the event.

At the event, three hot air balloons were flown carrying posters, each three meters high and 10 meters long, and there was a message written on each poster saying: ―Brotherhood requires devotion. Do not forget your brothers in Syria, Egypt and Palestine.‖ The message demanded freedom for oppressed people all over the world but especially those living in the Middle East.

The activist group said that Egypt will eventually triumph and live in peace. The group also made the ―Rabaa sign,‖ which has become the symbol of protests against the military coup in Egypt because of the center of the anti-coup protests, Rabaa al-Adawiya Square. Made by raising four fingers with the thumb resting on the palm, the sign has come to represent public demonstrations protesting the removal of Egypt's first democrati- cally elected president, Mohammed Morsi, and the ensuing violence that killed hundreds of people. Rabaa means four or fourth in Arabic. Speaking to the press, the chairman of the youth unit of the Human and Civilization Movement, Orhan Demirel, stated: ―We gathered here today with many local and interna- tional activists, and we want to draw attention to Egypt, Syria and Pales- tine, where many clashes have taken place. Those hot air balloons rise for freedom in Egypt, Syria and Pales- tine.‖ Demirel also thanked everyone who participated in the event. Page 12 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media

HOT-AIR BALLOON TESTICLES RAISE AWARENESS FOR MALE CANCERS http://www.psfk.com/2013/08/testicle-hot-air-balloon.html

There is an assumption that many men do not like to talk about their health, particularly their health down there. The U.K.‘s Male Cancer Awareness Campaign wants to get guys talking about testicular cancer because it is a highly curable disease if caught early. To advocate can- cer awareness, the group has partnered with Irish actor Chris O‘Dowd in an Indiegogo cam- paign to raise enough money for ‗SkyBalls,‘ a hot air balloon shaped like testicles.

The scrotum-shaped balloon is the ‗ultimate awareness tool,‘ reads the campaign, and will last the group 10 years for many a flight to get people talking about testicular cancer. The £100,000 balloon will have #CheckYourBalls hashtag to encourage men to think about their scrotal health and get them talking about it with one another. Crass it may be, but the balloon would put a stig- matic subject in plain view, flying high in the UK skies.

Page 13 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Hot air balloon world record attempt: Pictures as 408 balloonists take to the skies 1 Aug 2013 18:22 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/hot-air-balloon-world-record-2114839#ixzz2chxR91Pg

The balloonists took to the skies hoping to break the coveted record by being in the air at the same time What a load of hot air. This was the colourful scene as hundreds of balloons took off during a world record attempt. It happened during an annual international hot air balloon meeting in Chambley-Bussieres in eastern France. And 408 balloonists took to the skies hoping to break the coveted record by being in the air at the same time. That one was only set last Saturday during the same meeting when 343 balloons were airborne.

Page 14 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media

Anti-poaching hot air balloon festival scheduled at the Mara

By JAME NGUNJIRI, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/nyeri/Anti+poaching+hot+air+balloon+festival+scheduled+at+Mara/-/1954190/1963508/-/cll7pb/-/ index.html

The first ever International Hot-Air Balloon festival in Africa is scheduled to be held at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve later in the year.

It is expected to boost the anti-poaching campaign and elephant conservation in the country. The event’s organisers said Thursday that most of the proceeds will go towards anti-poaching cam- paign efforts and wildlife conservation projects in the country.

They particularly seek to help save the African elephant.

The event, dubbed Africa Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta will be held from December 6 to 8 and is expected to attract hundreds of tourists and other visitors from all over the world.

HOT-AIR BALLOON DESTINATION The organizers, Prestige Travel Company, said they intend to make Kenya the ultimate Hot-Air Bal- loon destination in Africa, the only one of its kind.

“Teams from Europe and USA are very excited about this event,” said Mr Peter Mbugua from Pres- tige Travel Company.

Page 15 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media The teams that have confirmed their participation so far include Private Balloon Flights from the USA, Kubiceck Balloons from Austria and Czech Republic.

Others are Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Company, Lebanon, Apex Balloons from United Kingdom and Hot Air Balloon Rides from United Kingdom.

Mr Mbugua said this will translate to a boost in tourism, giving Kenya comparative advantage over our regional competitors especially Tanzania, South Africa and Egypt.

During the three days, hundreds of colourful balloons will float above the Mara over herds of wilde- beests and other wildlife each morning as the day breaks.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW The organisers said this will give participants the chance to enjoy a bird’s-eye-view of the magnifi- cent Maasai Mara Game Reserve teeming with animals in their natural habitat.

The Balloon pilots will particularly enjoy competition on the morning of the second day.

After mass ascension, the pilots will compete in events that are more challenging than they look, the organisers said.

“In the prize grab event, pilots must launch at least one mile away from the field, then fly back, avoiding collisions with hundreds of other balloons, and navigate to the precise location of an enve- lope attached to a tall pole.

The envelope holds a prize and the first one to grab it wins it,” said Mr Mbugua.

GAS BALLOONING He said gas ballooning is the ultimate challenge for balloonists, “ They fly higher and farther than hot air balloons, often exposing pilots to violent weather conditions,” said Mr Mbugua.

The organising team said that in the most spectacular feature of the event, participants will see the world famous big five together in one location.

A member of the organising team Meshack Kuria said after landing participants will also be treated to game drives by retrieval vehicles as their crew retrieve the balloons. He said spectators will be allowed to walk amongst the balloons as they inflate on the launch field each morning.

Visitors will have a chance to ask questions and meet pilots and even help out crew members to in- flate the balloons.

“This is also a powerful event for corporate team building as staff and sponsors’ guests assist the pi- lots and crew to prepare the balloons, ride together and assist in retrieval on landing,” said Mr Kuria.

Page 16 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media 10 strange facts about hot air balloons

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/10-strange-facts-about-hot-air-ballons-213019439.html By Joy Lanzendorfer | Mental Floss – 16 hours ago

You think the Wright Brothers were impressive? Hot air balloons were carrying people through the air almost a century before the Wright Brothers were even born. Here are some oddities from the oldest form of human flight.

1. A ROOSTER, A DUCK, AND A SHEEP WERE THE FIRST HOT AIR BALLOON PASSENGERS.

In 1783, the first hot air balloon was set to fly over the heads of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French court in Versailles. Like monkeys in space, this odd assortment of animals was chosen to test the effects of flight. Sheep, thought to be similar to people, would show the effects of altitude on a land dweller, while ducks and roosters, which could already fly (albeit at different heights), would act as controls in the experiment. The balloon flew on a tether for 8 minutes, rising 1500 feet into the air and traveling 2 miles before being brought safely to the ground. The animals were unharmed.

2. THE FIRST PILOTS WERE ALMOST CONDEMNED CRIMINALS.

When it came time to choose a pilot for the first hot air balloon flight, Louis XVI didn‘t want to be responsible for potential fatalities, so he figured: Hey, condemned criminals are going to die anyway, let‘s have them fly the balloon. Luckily, he was talked out of the idea. Instead, scientist Jean- François Pilâtre De Rozier (above) and aristocrat François Laurent d‘Arlandes were chosen to fly the balloon. On November 21, 1783, the men flew for 20 minutes, becoming the first people to experience sustained flight.

3. THE FIRST PILOT WAS ALSO THE FIRST AIR CRASH VICTIM.

Following the flight, Rozier became the Charles Lindbergh of his day. Two years later, he decided to break another record by crossing the English Channel in a new kind of balloon, one that was half hot air, half hydrogen. Sadly, 30 minutes after taking off, the balloon exploded. Rozier and his co-pilot were killed, giving him an unfortunate new record: the first person to fly in a balloon, and the first

Page 17 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media person to die in one.

4. CHAMPAGNE AFTER FLIGHT ORIGINATED TO APPEASE FARMERS.

As hot air balloons became a fad, French aristocracy soon learned that local farmers didn‘t much like rich people setting balloons down on their land. The aristocracy said the peasants were afraid because they thought the balloons looked like dragons, but while the smoke that powered early balloons may have appeared dragon-like, it seems more likely that the farmers didn‘t want hot air balloons crushing their crops. In any case, champagne smoothed things over, and a tradition was born.

5. SOME BELIEVE THE NAZCA LINES WERE MADE WITH HOT AIR BALLOONS.

This theory was put forth in the 1970s by Jim Woodman, who said that ancient Peruvians drew the giant figures in the Nazca desert with the help of hot air balloons. Woodman referenced ancient pottery that he thought depicted ballooning, as well as fabric fragments that could have been used as a balloon‘s envelope. He even went so far as to make his own balloon using only the resources that would have been available to ancient Peruvians. The theory has been largely discredited, but some still believe balloons had something to do with the Nazca lines.

6. THERE WAS EVEN A BALLOON DUEL.

In 1808, two Frenchmen found themselves in a love-triangle with Mademoiselle Tirevit, a celebrated opera dancer, and took to the skies above Paris for a duel. While a crowd gathered below to watch what they thought was a balloon race, the men pulled out blunderbusses and aimed at each other‘s balloons. Two shots were fired. One balloon was punctured and crashed to the buildings below, killing its occupants. The other man descended to the ground unharmed, and presumably gained Tirevit‘s hand.

7. AIR BALLOONS WERE USED FOR WAR RECONNAISSANCE.

In 1794, during the Battle of Fleurus in the French Revolution, a balloon called Entreprenant was flown for aerial observation to suss out enemy positions during combat. The balloon, which was tethered, flew for 9 hours. During this time, the aeronaut wrote down the movement of Austrian troops and dropped the dispatches to the ground. It‘s unclear whether the dispatches helped all that much—the generals were tactfully quiet on the matter—but the French did win the battle.

8. THE CIVIL WAR HAD A BALLOON CORPS.

Established by Abraham Lincoln, the Balloon Corps had seven balloons, at least 12 gas generators, and a flat-top balloon barge that used to be an old steamboat. The balloons, which had names like Intrepid, were used to spy on enemy movement from as far as 15 miles away. Not to be

Page 18 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media outdone, the Confederates made their own balloon—out of fine dress silk—that was eventually captured by the Union army. The Balloon Corps disbanded in 1863, as it turns out that giant balloons make good targets to shoot at during combat.

9. SMOKE BALLOONS WERE CRAZY CARNIVAL ATTRACTIONS.

From the 1800s to the 1900s, traveling fairs often featured a daredevil show involving smoke balloons. A stuntman wearing a parachute was attached to a basket-less balloon, which was then held over a fire until very hot. The balloon was released and shot into the air, dragging the stuntman up with it. When the balloon reached the highest point, the stuntman detached, opened the parachute, and descended to the ground again, much to the delight of the crowd below.

10. SOMEONE INVENTED A GLASS-BOTTOM BALLOON.

Imagine floating thousands of feet above the earth with nothing between you and the ground but glass. This is what passengers experienced when Christian Brown debuted his glass-bottom hot air balloon at the 2010 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Brown told the British press the flight was ―terrifying‖ and trial flights had ended ―with passengers shrieking and screaming in fear.‖ There‘s talk of opening the glass-bottom balloon to the public. Sound fun?

Tightrope walk between hot air balloon Friday 2 August 2013 - 6:52am http://www.enca.com/life/tightrope- walk-between-hot-air-balloons

CHINA - Multiple Guinness world record holder Exelon Kyle has gained yet another world record. Kyle, attempted to walk on a tightrope extended between two hot air balloons in Kunming, China. It took him 38.35 seconds to complete the 'hot air balloon 18 metres fast walking', earning him another Guinness world record.

Page 19 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Virgin hot-air balloon 'scared horse to death in paddock' 1:53PM BST 26 Aug 2013 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/newstopics/ howaboutthat/10266322/Virgin -hot-air-balloon-scared-horse- to-death-in-paddock.html

Eighteen-year-old thoroughbred mare Della bolted as the huge balloon's burners ignited overhead and she fell to the ground. A vet was called but could do nothing to save Della, who had to be humanely destroyed. Her distraught owner Liz Jones, a 52-year-old accountant with the town council in Henley-on- Thames, Oxon, said seven other horses in nearby fields also stampeded in terror when the red Virgin balloon passed low overhead after aborting a touchdown at Henley Rugby Club. She said "The recommended minimum height is 500ft around livestock but this was hovering at about two or three times the height of the town hall when it came over the field. It had been even lower than that beforehand." Mrs Jones had been in the field with Della at Friar Park Stables in Gravel Hill, Henley, when the balloon appeared. To gain height, the pilot fired up the burners, but the sudden roar caused Della to bolt. The mare was already unwell and she collapsed to the ground. She was unable to get up and a vet from Aylesbury was called and eventually administered a lethal injection. Mrs Jones, of St Mark's Road, Henley, criticised the balloon pilot, saying he shouldn't have used the burners when that low over livestock. She said there was a 'massive roar' as the flames came out of the gas canisters to make the balloon rise. "Horses are flight animals - such a sight and sound will immediately put them into a panic. It is pure instinct." She said she had once taken a trip herself in a hot-air balloon that launched from Henley Rugby Club and travelled over Remenham and Crazies Hill, but her pilot had been sympathetic to livestock. "There are a lot of studs around there but the pilot was very mindful of where the livestock was. "He didn't put on the burners as we went over the horses so they weren't disturbed at all. That's what these pilots should be doing." Mum-of-two Mrs Jones, whose husband Howard, 53, is an IT consultant, had owned the 15.3-hand bay mare for eight years.

Page 20 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Della had been unwell for five days due to a complication of the central nervous system, which made her weak and unstable on her feet. She was put out in the field on the advice of a vet and Mrs Jones hoped she would recover after a quiet night. "Her chances were 50-50 if she had got through the night but I was deprived of the hope that she might survive." She said her horse had been a massive part of her life and her daughter, Kathryn, 23, was 'devastated'. She added "I've always been into horses and I would go out to see Della twice a day.I rode three or four times a week and Kathryn used to ride her before she went to university. "You can develop a very strong bond with a horse. She was a really sweet, friendly and special horse to me. It feels like a member of my family has died." Ruth Lovejoy, who owns the stables, was at home watching TV when she noticed the balloon flying low. She ran outside, knowing Della would be in danger, but could not save her. She said "I looked outside because the dogs started barking. The balloon must have been low for me to have seen it through my window. "It was much lower than it should have been and the burners made a hell of a loud noise. "The other horses were just going round and round frightened to death. "Any of them could have panicked and speared themselves on the fence or broken their limbs." The low-flying balloon was seen as it went over the town and many people took pictures of it on their phones. One woman who saw it said "I was with a friend and we both stopped to see if the balloon was in any trouble as it seemed too low in the sky. "The pilot tried to use the burner but it was descending fairly rapidly and wasn't gaining any height. "It dropped down behind the houses so it was difficult to tell what happened next but other people were stopping and staring and expecting an impact. "I couldn't say exactly how high it was but it wasn't much higher than the rooftops of the houses along Hart Street." A spokeswoman for Virgin Balloon Flights said "The balloon was legally permitted to be below 1,000ft as it was on approach to landing. "We are very sorry to hear about this sad event. Unfortunately, this area was not marked as a sensitive area on the ballooning maps and is used as a regular launching and landing spot for balloons, with no previous incident. "This area will now be marked as a sensitive area so balloonists are aware of it. In another drama 30 miles away, onlookers hauled a Virgin hot-air balloon and its passengers to safety after it nearly landed on a busy main road in Newbury, Berkshire. Rush hour motorists gaped as the huge balloon narrowly missed trees and came down in Victoria Park just yards from the A339. The Virgin balloon was seen in the skies for around an hour before eventually landing in the park. People heard the pilot shouting and three residents rushed to pull the balloon away from the road and some trees by grabbing ropes dangling from the passenger basket. As the balloon landed safely, they were given a round of applause from the worried passengers. It is believed that the balloon had taken off on a sight-seeing flight from the park but was forced to abandon its journey to Kingsclere eight miles away as there was no breeze.

Page 21 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Gilbert deflates push for hot-air balloons

The Republic | azcentral.comThu Aug 15, 2013 10:18 PM http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/20130814gilbert-deflates-push-hot-air-balloons.html?nclick_check=1

Gilbert officials have grounded their plans to let hot-air balloons use town parks after Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport raised concerns over possible dangers for airplanes and balloons. The move crushed at least one private operator’s hopes to promote Gilbert as a destination for hot-air balloons — particularly because most municipalities in the southeast Valley forbid balloonists from using their parks because of safety and liability issues. The problem stems from the fact that almost half of Gilbert falls within the so-called Class D airspace boundaries of both Phoenix-Mesa Gateway and Chandler Municipal airports, officials said. “There’s really not much a balloon operator can do to deviate away from the airport. So, it really becomes an issue of us trying to manage our traffic around any balloons. So, that is obviously a problem for us,” said Casey Giddens, Gateway’s air-traffic manager. But Shane Cory, president of Aerogelic Ballooning LLC, said that flying balloons is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and that balloonists are legally allowed in Class D airspace. “I don’t understand how we could use Williams Gateway (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport) being close to Gilbert parks, how we can use that as a way to deny the use of parks for hot-air ballooning,” he said. Cory, who has operated hot-air-balloon rides in the Valley since 1976, said air-traffic controllers don’t want the extra work hot-air-balloon traffic might cause. “Because of the balloons there, they have to do more work,” he said. “But that’s their job. They can move (them) out of the way. That’s air traffic.” Cory was miffed with town officials, noting that their decision won’t stand in the way of Gilbert again hosting the Arizona Balloon Classic. “They make tens of thousands of dollars off the Arizona Balloon Classic,” he said. “They are trying to say it’s OK if we make tens of thousands of dollars off of your balloon festival, but in the meantime, you’re not allowed to fly balloons on our property any other time.” Hot-air ballooning in Gilbert used to be categorized as a “dangerous act.” When the parks board revised its code last year, it included a provision for hot-air-ballooning events. However, landing or launching balloons at town parks as ongoing activities is not permitted. Since early last year, a subcommittee of the all-volunteer parks board had been working to amend the town code to let hot-air balloonists use the town’s parks and drew up a 14-point plan that detailed fees, insurance and other regulations that would govern their use. Pilots thought the proposed regulations were harsh. Among them were proposals to limit takeoffs and landings to sunrise Mondays through Fridays and to

Page 22 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media require an annual non-refundable fee of $200 for a permit, a $25 fee for an identification letter for each balloon, and a $200 refundable damage deposit. Former parks-board member Bobbi Smith, who headed the subcommittee, said she studied the issue of restricted airspace and didn’t believe it pertained to the parks that balloonists could have been allowed to use. “I’m sorry that we wasted the hours of time and energy that the subcommittee spent on this if we weren’t going to consider their recommendation. Without the ordinance in place, we have no way to monitor or issue citations if there is a violation,” she said. “I still feel that it would be worthy of a trial period.” Other southeast Valley municipalities have created similar roadblocks to balloon pilots. Chandler, which once allowed balloonists to use its parks, expressly forbids them. City spokeswoman Nachie Marquez said earlier this year that the city considers balloons “a huge liability issue.” In Tempe, hot-air balloons are permitted only in an emergency. Mesa and Queen Creek do not address ballooning specifically in their codes, although Mesa allows the contemporaneous flight of five or more balloons from an established airport or landing field pursuant to a FAA permit.

Balloonists Will Get Suggestions for Flying in Doylestown Township Balloons will continue to soar over the township but with more consideration for the folks—and animals— who live below. Posted by Mariella Savidge (Editor), August 25, 2013 at 08:30 AM http://doylestown.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/ balloon-operators-to-get-suggestion-letter

Doylestown Township supervisors on Tuesday outlined the elements of a letter that will be sent operators of hot air balloons in the hope of eliminating adverse effects balloons could have on residents, livestock and pets. A group of township residents wanted to ban balloon landingsafter a dog was startled by a low-flying hot air balloon, ran away and was killed by a car last year. Township supervisors said in June, however, that they will not take action to ban balloon landings. The letter that will be sent to members of the Great Eastern Balloon Association are directives regarding flying and landing in the township, said Township Manager Stephanie Mason. Specific suggestions include having advance crews ask permission to land on private property, avoiding areas where livestock are grazing, avoiding flying low in very populated areas, switching to the backup power system that makes less noise when appropriate and being polite to land owners, she said.

Page 23 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Vancouver sisters win P.E.I. 2014 balloon ride draw Published on August 4, 2013 Mitch MacDonald Guardian photo by Brian McInnis http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2013-08-04/article-3339178/Vancouver-sisters-win-P.E.I.-2014-balloon-ride-draw/1

If first impressions are everything, Vancouver sisters Maribeth and Stephanie Ching will likely remember P.E.I. long after they leave. The two Vancouver residents had arrived in the province only hours before winning a P.E.I. 2014 Inc. hot air balloon ride during a ballot draw at Victoria Park on Sunday night. The draw occurred a day before the 150 day countdown to 2014, the year which marks the 150th anniversary year of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference. For the two, it was a glowing first impression of the province. As Maribeth‘s name was called by Lt.-Gov. Frank Lewis in the ballot draw, she instantly cheered and hugged her sister. ―We just flew in today and we‘re so excited to be in your beautiful province,‖ said Maribeth while accepting the win. ―This is so exciting.‖ Penny Walsh McGuire, executive director of P.E.I. 2014, said the event was a way to get both Islanders and tourists excited for the upcoming anniversary. ―It‘s pretty awesome a couple of people from the other side of the countrty won it here in the Birthplace of Confedeartion,‖said Walsh McGuire. ―It couldn‘t have worked out better. ―We hope they‘ll leave P.E.I. and tell everyone about their experience here and about 2014." While slightly windy conditions prevented the balloon from going up on its scheduled ride Sunday night, a rain date has been set for Tuesday. That‘s good news for the sisters, who will be in P.E.I. until this Friday. While Maribeth was already in a hot air balloon once before, she said ―doing it in P.E.I. is a completely new experience.‖ ―It‘s pretty special to see it (P.E.I.) from a hot air balloon,‖ added Stephanie. Walsh McGuire said the next 150 days will see a number of announcements made about programs and events being held in 2014. Maribeth said the two sisters will now have to think about returning to P.E.I. for 2014. ―I think we owe the Island now,‖ she said with a laugh.

Page 24 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Virginia’s Largest Corn Maze – Trails for All Ages

Although we are Virginia’s Largest Corn Maze, 25 acres, we divide our maze into four (4) separate trails. The first trail takes about 30 minutes to find all our story stations and navigate the paths. Our medium level maze offers great trivia and navigation challenges and takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour to complete. Our third level? It may take you 2-3 hours, but the satisfaction of finding all 21 hole punches and finding your way out is absolutely farmtastic! The fourth level is the labyrinth at the top of the maze. No maps here to guide you, you are on your own! Your maze ticket allows you to complete one or all four maze trails. All times are approximate as it depends on your strategy, sense of adventure and size of your group! Our 2013 Maze is open from September 14- November 3. We hope you will make plans for a farmtastic adventure!

Hot-air balloon tangles with tree, disappears

BY GEMMA KARSTENS-SMITH, OTTAWA CITIZEN AUGUST 29, 2013 10:01 AM http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/balloon+tangles+with+tree+disappears/8847570/story.html

OTTAWA — A hot-air balloon ride took a bit of a detour Thursday morning when the craft got stuck in a tree. A witness called police after seeing the balloon stuck near Carling and Maitland avenues. It appears as though the pilot had been trying to land in a nearby field, said police spokesman Const. Chuck Benoît. By the time officers arrived, however, the balloon had disappeared. ―I‘m presuming they got unstuck and continued on their way,‖ Benoît said. No injuries were reported.

Page 25 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Hot air balloons disappear from Brisbane skyline as airport passenger traffic increases JODIE MUNRO O'BRIEN THE COURIER-MAIL AUGUST 30, 2013 12:00AM http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/hot-air-balloons-disappear-from-brisbane-skyline-as-airport-passenger-traffic-increases/ story-fnii5v70-1226706948091

FOR more than 25 years they were part of the Brisbane skyline. Now, Brisbane's hot air balloons have disappeared. The city's pioneer hot air ballooning companies, Fly Me to the Moon and Balloons Over Brisbane, have closed their doors after an increasingly crowded sky kept them grounded. Their businesses were becoming unsustainable as each morning they would be ready to take passengers up, only to be denied take off by Air Services Australia as airport passenger traffic increased. Hot air balloons are registered as aircraft with the federal government and compete for sky space with all other aircraft. Rob Walker, 51, spokesman for Air Services Australia, said although there has not been a ban placed on hot air balloons flying over the city, the opportunity to continue to allow the balloons to fly in the controlled air space had become limited. He said the inability to steer a balloon had become an issue as more aircraft and routes were added to the airport. Bob Lye, 57, of Balloons Down Under Gold Coast in Carrara, said the change in Brisbane, along with bad weather over the past few years, had effected even his Gold Coast business in a negative way. "About 50 per cent of our passengers would come from Brisbane. The balloons would fly over Brisbane and it was a little reminder," he said. "They were like a flying billboard so would make the phones ring … plus the balloons over Brisbane were iconic. "Now that the balloons aren't flying over the city anymore the number of phone calls from Brisbane has halved." The closest hot air balloon operators to the city are now based near Jimboomba, in Ipswich and on the Gold Coast.

Page 26 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Air Liquide selected as technological partner 4 Sep 2013 | By Stuart Radnedge http://www.gasworld.com/news/regions/ west-europe/air-liquide-selected-as- technological-partner/2002685.article

Iris Challenger II, the first hot air balloon powered by electricity, will attempt to cross the English Channel. Air Liquide is a technological partner in this grand adventure.

The co-pilots, Pierre Chabert and Gérard Feldzer, who are passionate about and highly skilled experts in aeronautics, took off today from Cap Gris Nez, France (Pas-de-Calais), heading for England as they attempt to cross the Channel. They are looking to set a world record, for the first crossing of the Channel in a hot air balloon powered by electricity.

The record distance is around 40 kilometers.

Faithful to its pioneering spirit, the Air Liquide Group has chosen to contribute its expertise to this human and technological adventure. To help achieve this exploit, the group is supplying 600 m3 of helium that will fill the shell of the hot air balloon.

This crossing is the first step of the Transoceans project whose aim is to carry out major crossings, explorations and scientific missions using means of transportation powered by environmentally friendly renewable energies, repeating the exploits of the pioneers in the field of aeronautics with the resources of tomorrow.

To meet the major challenges of the world, Air Liquide develops innovative technologies, with a particular focus on the area of energy, and participates actively in the search for and deployment of cleaner energy solutions. The group‘s collaboration with the 2013 TransManche project also illustrates its 25 years of expertise in the field of aeronautics and its desire to take part in the major scientific and technological projects that are pushing back the boundaries of knowledge, thus shaping our future.

Page 27 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Hot air balloons and sand skiing for Khawa 2014? http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php? sid=7&aid=299&dir=2013/August/Wednesday28

KHAWA: The usually quiet village of Khawa in the Kgalagadi District came alive last weekend when throngs descended upon it for the yearly dose of the Khawa Dune Challenge.

The event is a tourism excursion that involves quad bike riding spiced with traditional activities. It seems things are looking up for the event as more activities are planned for the third edition next year.The event is organised by Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO). The Chief Executive Officer of BTO, Myra Sekgororoane told Showbiz that they want to add more activities to keep the event alive and interesting. She said that this year, they had planned to have hot air balloon rides but the weather was not favourable. She hopes that next year, the hot air balloon rides will be part of the activities.Another activity that is set to be introduced is sand skiing."Khawa has the perfect conditions for sand skiing because of the dunes," she explained. She said they aim to break the monotony of doing the same things year in and year out.Sekgororoane has noted that domestic tourism is picking up, as more Batswana are open to the idea of travelling and sight-seeing. "Batswana are showing trends that they like to travel and are hungry for adventure and as BTO, it is our mandate to make sure that they have such activities to look forward to," she stated.She said the fact that people came from other parts of the country is proof of the adventurous spirit of Batswana.

Tecumseh bans flying lanterns Sep 11, 2013 | Last Updated: Sep 11, 2013 - 9:04 UTC http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Tecumseh+bans+flying+lanterns/8896906/story.html

Council banned flying lanterns Tuesday over safety concerns. Tecumseh joins Kingsville and Essex, which have also prohibited the sale and use of the miniature hot air balloons that fire officials say can travel long distances before landing, sometimes still lit and posing a fire hazard. A flying lantern is a lightweight decoration made of paper with a flame in a cage at the base. The hot air allows the balloon to rise and float away.

Page 28 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media The Roller Coaster Ups And Downs Of The World's Helium Supply Making the most of a limited resource

By Katie PeekPosted 08.22.2013 at 9:00 http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/roller-coaster-ups-and-downs-helium-business-infographic

In a free market, supply follows demand. But in the helium market, regulations set price and production, and with good reason. Helium gas—essential for MRIs, rockets, and space telescopes—is a limited resource. Radioactive elements in Earth’s crust emit helium, which gets trapped in natural-gas fields, and we then extract it—or let it escape as we burn the gas. Until recently, the U.S. made most of the world’s refined helium. Now it’s a global game. Here’s a history of the price, world production, and rising power of helium.

Page 29 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Engineer, Balloonist Lindstrand: Google Loon a "Waste of Time" by Karl Bode 06:15PM Monday Sep 23 2013 http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Engineer-and-Balloonist-Lindstrand- Google-Loon-a-Waste-of-Time-125936

Back in June Google unveiled Google Loon, the latest in a long line of similar projects that will use hot air balloons to deliver broadband and wireless services to under-served or emergency prone areas. Project Loon will use hot air balloons 49 feet wide stationed 12 miles above the planet, well above the range of commercial aircraft. Ground base stations set some sixty miles apart communicate with solar-powered radio transmitters affixed to the balloons, and Google steers the balloons using wind as they ride the 40th parallel.

However, avid balloonist and aeronautical engineer Per Lindstrand believes that Google is wasting their time in the effort. Lindstrand, who has flown around the world with Richard Branson, argues that hetold Google it was a waste of time, but they "didn't listen":

"Balloons blow away. Wind speeds at that altitude can reach up to 120 knots, so they won't stay there for more than a minute." Yeah, but surely Google can do that bit where they keep their Loon balloons in the air for 100 days, allowing the custom-built steering mechanism to keep them on track? Another categorical "No" from Per. "No-one has been able to do that before." "Normally a helium balloon at altitude can only stay up for 3-4 days, and if you set off a lot of balloons simultaneously around the world, sooner or later they're just going to collect at the North Pole or the South Pole. They can't stay in position." "Balloons blow away. Wind speeds at that altitude can reach up to 120 knots, so they won't stay there for more than a minute." Yeah, but surely Google can do that bit where they keep their Loon balloons in the air for 100 days, allowing the custom-built steering mechanism to keep them on track? Another categorical "No" from Per. "No-one has been able to do that before." "Normally a helium balloon at altitude can only stay up for 3-4 days, and if you set off a lot of balloons simultaneously around the world, sooner or later they're just going to collect at the North Pole or the South Pole. They can't stay in position."

According to Lindstrand, the project might work if Google used airships and then used the sun as a power source, though we haven't seen those kind of "blimpband" efforts take off either.

Page 30 Crownlines October 2013 In the Media Mara North Conservancy wants balloons banned from their sky

BY PROF. DR. WOLFGANG H. THOME, ETN CORRESPONDENT, AFRICA | OCT 10, 2013 http://www.eturbonews.com/38737/mara-north-conservancy-wants-balloons-banned-their-sky

An epic legal battle is shaping up between the Mara North Conservancy and Transworld Safaris’ balloon operations, according to information received from Nairobi, to determine who owns the skies over the Masai Mara. The High Court in Nairobi earlier this week issued an injunction, halting any flights by Transworld Balloons over the Mara North Conservancy, inspire of the operation being duly licensed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which for all intent and purpose controls the skies over Kenya, irrespective of where those skies are located.

The High Court reportedly also ordered the plaintiffs, the Mara North Conservancy, to deposit 3 million Kenya Shillings to have funds instantly available to compensate Transworld Safaris’ balloon operations, should the case fail to get a verdict in the plaintiff’s favor. Should the funds not be deposited with the court, will the injunction lapse and the status quo ante would be restored. The case appears based on suggestions, that flights by balloons would endanger the lives of those living or being present on the ground below as well as on alleged complaints from tourists about the noise of the balloons’ burners.

The High Court has granted leave to the respondents to challenge the decision in a superior court as Transworld is reportedly seeking to have the injunction overturned to continue doing business while the case is being heard.

Tourism stakeholders have reacted by majority in condemning the Mara North Conservancy, claiming the entire issue is neither about the dangers to those on the ground nor the noise levels but simply an attempt to extract greater royalties from the balloon operators for any landing they are performing after a balloon flight inside the Mara North Conservancy, as according to the unison opinion of several usually well informed individuals “… they are not satisfied with the amount they are getting, have allegedly tried to negotiate higher royalties and when that failed launched a case in the High Court [the word frivolous was used more than once]. Balloon safaris are part of the tourism experience in the Mara and have been since Alan Root started his test flights and Keekorok became the first base for such flights. For us it is a question of the conservancy managers trying to use the court as a stick to beat the balloon operator to get what they want. The next thing they will claim that flights of tourists by light aircraft are also a danger to those on the ground and make too much noise. They are not serious and this case will do more damage to their reputation than good,” wrote another senior stakeholder when asked to comment on the legal battle.

“If it were only on the principle of conservation or preventing the noise during that one hour maximum balloon ride, that would be one thing but from all I hear it is really about the money which renders their core claims void in my humble opinion,” wrote yet another source.

Added information provided also claims that a previous court order had in fact ruled that Transworld Safaris could continue to operate as long as they were paying US$50 per person carried in the balloon, when landing inside the Mara North Conservancy area which adjoins other conservancies and the main Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Page 31 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Education Up, Up & Away: Lesson launches students' imaginations Jonathan Streetman/Journal Review Posted: Saturday, August 17, 2013 1:15 am | Updated: 7:45 am, Sat Aug 17, 2013. http://www.journalreview.com/news/article_609a170c-06ce-11e3-8c89-0019bb2963f4.html

Crowded around the wicker basket one class at a time, Nicholson Elementary students squealed with a distinct mixture of excitement and fear as the heat from the propane torch reached their faces. Pilot Dave Bobel of That-A-Way Hot Air Balloon Rides was at the school Friday morning to teach the kids about the history of hot air balloons, and then demonstrate what it can do. Bobel was invited by Dee Isenberg, a teacher and longtime aeronaut herself, who was thrilled that the children were experiencing a hot air balloon. ―All the teachers will be fitting this experience into their lessons plans, with writing prompts and math lessons,‖ Isenberg said, pulling on ropes and helping Bobel each step of the process. First Bobel spoke to all the students in the school‘s auditorium about the history of hot air balloons, saying the very first riders were a few farm animals because no humans cared to risk it. ―When the balloon landed, the animals were just fine,‖ Bobel said. ―Except the chicken had a broken wing, but the theory is that the sheep accidentally rolled over on it during the landing.‖ Outside the children lined the playground while Bobel, Isenberg and several helpers, including Principal Rex Ryker, firefighter Nate Patton and school board member Steve McLaughlin, unpacked the balloon and began to fill it. Children laughed and teachers all took photos as the balloon reached for the sky. To keep it from taking off too soon, Bobel invited Ryker into the basket. Then Bobel did what comes naturally to him after 34 years of ballooning. He hit the flames and lifted off the ground. Tethered to a nearby truck, the basket hung about 30 feet in the air. Ryker waved back down at his screaming students, all smiles. ―This is truly a great experience for our kids. A lot of them would never get to see and touch a hot air balloon otherwise,‖ Ryker said back on solid ground. ―They certainly can‘t say they have nothing to write about in class today.‖ As the children crowded around the basket, reacting each time Bobel pulled the lever and flames shot up, McLaughlin stood back with a smile. ―I love being able to come out to the schools and interact with the students like this,‖ he said. ―It‘s a great reminder of the responsibility we have as board members.‖ One by one, the children filtered back into the school as the balloon deflated and was packed away back into the basket. Bobel, who was headed into a few classrooms to help out with a fun lesson plan, thought the event was a success. ―It‘s always fun to see their faces light up like that.‖ Page 32 Crownlines October 2013 Balloons in Education Vae View Elementary students like hot-air balloons By Dana Rimington, Standard-Examiner correspondent Wed, 08/28/2013 - 10:45pm http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/08/28/vae-view-elementary-students-hot-air-balloons

LAYTON -- To cheers of "how cool," Vae View Elementary students watched their principal and several teachers fly high in a hot-air balloon. But pilot Danny Stam was quick to correct them, saying, "If it was cool, it wouldn't be called a hot-air balloon." As Antelope Island gears up for the annual Stampede Festival this weekend -- which includes hot-air balloon demonstrations -- its Kites and Balloons to Schools program had hot-air balloonists visiting several schools in Davis School District during the week. The balloonists made it to Vae View Elementary in Layton on Wednesday. "This is a new experience for the kids, getting to experience a hot-air balloon up close. Many of us haven't been exposed to them," Principal Bernardo Villar said. Fifth-grader German Campos said he had never seen a hot-air balloon before, so he avidly watched the process. "It's definitely awesome, and bigger than I thought it would be," German said. The 60-foot-wide balloon became a ride for Villar and several teachers. Villar looked slightly nervous on his ascent while standing in the basket with the pilot, leading several on-lookers to wonder if he was afraid of heights. Once firmly on the ground, he confirmed their suspicions. "I'm a little afraid of heights, but it wasn't that bad at all, knowing the ropes were there to secure the balloon. That made it a little better," Villar said. Manning the hot-air balloon is no small feat, according to Cathy Stam, the pilot's wife, who said it takes a crew of at least five people to operate the balloon. "It's the only form of aviation that's social, because it takes a group of people, so we're always meeting new people," she said. The Stams, who reside in Holladay, are contracted with RE/MAX to fly their hot-air balloon at activities throughout the state, including visits to schools. "We love visiting with the kids because of their enthusiasm, and it teaches them about the history of aviation and how hot air rises," Cathy Stam said. Fifth-grade teacher Nancy Kemp had the chance to go up in the balloon, which she said was a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity. "I was kind of scared, but sometimes it is best not to let fears rule your life, and besides, the view was amazing, seeing all of the kids from above," Kemp said. Students participated in a question-and-answer assembly afterward with the pilot. One student wanted to know why the balloon didn't melt with the hot air blasted inside. Danny Stam told the group the balloon material is treated with fire-retardant chemicals, and the flame from the burners only goes up about 15 feet, far enough away from the 60-foot wide walls that the heat doesn't usually touch the material. Danny Stam also told students, "there is enough heat from the propane burners to heat 100 homes for a year." Another student wanted to know how high the balloon could go, to which Danny Stam replied that his balloon can go up to 18,000 feet high, and some special hot-air balloons can go as high as 20,000 to 30,000 feet, but they require special fuel, and the pilot has to wear a special pressure suit and oxygen tank. Danny Stam told students that to operate a hot-air balloon, the pilot is required to have a license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Before he began flying hot-air balloons, he flew small airplanes, so he has the necessary pilot's license.

Page 33 Crownlines October 2013 Legalities Trespassing "In the Air"??? WRITTEN BY GLEN MOYER TUESDAY, 16 JULY 2013 20:44 http://www.bfa.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1069:trespassing-qin-the-airq&catid=1:latest- news&Itemid=88889173

A well-known photographer working on an assignment for National Geographic was arrested and briefly detained last week for shooting aerial photographs from a paraglider over a cattle feedlot in Finney County Kansas.

George Steinmetz of Glen Ridge, NJ, was operating the paraglider over a feedlot that contained thousands of cattle. He was accompanied by Wei Zhang of Beijing, China, a paraglider instructor, who was driving an SUV in support of the flight.

According to Hutchnews.com in Hutchison, KS, Steinmetz was working on a story for National Geographic when the incident occurred. He and Zhang were originally arrested for trespassing on the feedlot property. They had been noticed by ranch hands on the property, who notified authorities, and the two were taken into custody even though they had moved off the property by the time authorities arrived.

While each paid a $270 bond and was released the same day, the incident raised a larger question of how "trespassing in the air" is defined. Kansas Livestock Association attorney Aaron Popelka told Hutchnews.com that Kansas law does not define how far up property rights extend, but that a landowner's rights do extend to the airspace above is property. And while federal law allows overflights for air travel, Steinmetz was not making on overflight for travel purposes. He was circling at a low altitude and taking photographs with a "clear intent" to remain in that airspace. Yahoo News relays a report from takepart.com that indicates that Steinmetz was not charged under the Kansas Farm Animal and Field Crop and Research Facilities Protection Act.

The Finney County (KS) Attorney has not said whether additional charges will be brought. National Geographic has said it will assist in the any necessary defense.

The KLA says they are only concerned about food safety, and that incidents like this one in late June could potentially create a safety issue for either employees or livestock. Association spokesman Todd Dormer said that "unauthorized and suspicious activity should be reported to local law enforcement" as a potential biosecurity issue.

Page 34 Crownlines October 2013 Legalities Balloon accident law firm launches in ABQ Tina Jensen Updated: Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 11:26 PM MDT Published: Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 11:24 PM MDT

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Just in time for Balloon Fiesta, an Albuquerque law firm is advertising its new specialty: Hot air balloon crashes. "Passengers have the right to know that they will be able to get on a hot air balloon and fly around safely and come back to air safely without any human factors leading to their injury," said Kendrick Dane of Dane Law Firm. Every year, Balloon Fiesta see some close calls that lead to a broken bone or two. Sometimes, they go beyond close calls. Over the past 40 years, a dozen people who have gone up in balloons during the Fiesta have died. Dane insists the specialty isn't about being opportunistic. "Some of the greatest leaps and bounds in aviation history in terms of passenger safety have come from litigation after crashes," he said. "It's sometimes the only thing that spurs new regulations and new and fresh ideas about how to fly safely." Some Fiesta accidents have resulted in big payouts. A jury said a pilot in a 2009 flight was reckless and that Balloon Fiesta was negligent. The passenger was awarded nearly $4 million. That verdict is being appealed. Dane says passengers can empower themselves by avoiding high capacity balloons, which lead to more accidents. He also recommends finding a pilot with more than 800 hours flight experience. Hot air balloon pilots can be licensed after only 35 hours. Dane also says the releases balloon passengers sign don't hold up in court if there's proven negligence. "In New Mexico, we have a public policy embodied by our government that says these releases are not fair to the public, they encourage reckless conduct, and we're not going to uphold them most of the time," he said. Balloon Fiesta officials declined to comment.

Page 35 Crownlines October 2013 2014 Winter Outlook

2013-2014 CANADIAN WINTER FORECAST FROM THE FARMER’S ALMANAC By Nick Hamilton Sun, Sep 1 2013 9:16 am | 11 Comments http://snowboarding.transworld.net/1000208438/ news/2013-2014-canadian-winter-forecast-farmers- almanac-snow-outlook/

The Farmer’s Almanac just announced their winter forecast for the Canadian 2013-2014 season. From The Farmer’s Almanac— After the unusually warm and snowless winter of 2011–2012, many people questioned if winter could make a comeback. Well it did. Last winter was cold and especially snowy. So what‘s in store for Canada this winter? The ―Days of Shivery‖ are back! For 2013–2014, we are forecasting a cold winter for much of Canada. A large area of below-normal temperatures will predominate from roughly east of the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern Great Lakes. Coldest temperatures will run south and east across the Laurentian Plateau to the Great Lakes. Only along the Pacific Coast and Maritime Provinces will winter temperatures average close to normal. Precipitation-wise, drier than normal precipitation amounts are expected over British Columbia—an anomaly of sorts, since wet weather is usually the norm during the winter season. Meanwhile over the Prairies near-normal precipitation amounts are expected. Ontario and Quebec could be in for a snowy winter season while farther east, the Maritimes could vacillate between bouts of rain and snow. Significant snowfalls are forecast for parts of every zone. Over Quebec and the Maritimes, the first two weeks of February could be in for possible heavy winter weather. This particular part of the winter season will be notably volatile. And mid-March could bring a wave of storminess stretching almost from coast to coast, bringing a wide variety of precipitation types as well as strong and gusty winds.

Page 36 Crownlines October 2013 2014 Winter Outlook

Updated Computer Model Forecast Through February 2014 Brett Anderson September 09, 2013; 10:45 AM http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/anderson/updated-computer-model-forecast-through-february-2014/17586203

The updated ECMWF model seasonal forecast was released last night. This model forecasts temperature and precipitation anomalies by the month. I will interpret what it shows for the months of October through February. Keep in mind, this is not the AccuWeather.com forecast. We will be releasing our own winter outlooks in October. Based on the projected upper-level jet stream patterns forecasted by the ECMWF I believe the model is too warm with its temperature forecast for central Canada during some of the winter months. This includes the southern Prairies and into northwestern Ontario. Also, the ECMWF has trended a little more in the direction of a weak El Nino possibly forming by the second half of winter and its precipitation/temperature forecast seems to reflect that in some ways.

Page 37 Crownlines October 2013 2014 Winter Outlook Winter, Fall Weather Forecasts For Canada Reminder Of Coming Doom http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/26/winter-weather-forecast-canada_n_3818943.html The Huffington Post Canada | By Michael Bolen Posted: 08/26/2013 5:36 pm EDT | Updated: 08/27/2013 5:19 pm EDT

The fall and winter weather forecasts for Canada are trickling in which means WINTER REALLY IS COMING. Unlike in Game of Thrones' Westeros, where winter is always coming but never actually comes, Canada really will soon become a frigid nightmare. Just like every year. That said, according to Accuweather's senior meteorologist Brett Anderson, some of Canada can expect a milder than average winter and fall. While it's still too early to make a complete forecast for the winter months, Anderson said initial modelling suggests a "milder, but moist winter in the east" and a "colder than normal" season for the Rocky Mountains and Prairies. As for the immediate future, Fall is shaping up to be wet for much of the country. The Accuweather forecast predicts a wetter than average fall for southern Ontario and particularly for Toronto. The province should start to dry out around November. Fall should be mild for the St. Lawrence Valley, with warm weather for Montreal and Quebec City in September. The southern Prairies can expect an earlier than usual freeze and Western Canada is predicted to have colder than average second half of fall. The good news is that those in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba can expect intermittent pockets of warm weather throughout September. British Columbia has been enjoying an unusually dry summer, but that's set to end in fall with a return to the usual forecast of near-perpetual rain. Late September through October may actually be wetter than normal in Vancouver due to Pacific storms. The Eastern provinces seem set to have the best fall in the country, with a forecast of unseasonably warm and dry weather. As for what Canada can expect in the coming years, Anderson said things are about to get predictably unpredictable. "We have seen a notable increase in extreme meteorological (weather) events across North America, especially over the past 15 to 20 years," the meteorologist said. "It is very difficult to link one particular extreme event to climate change. However, Canada is undergoing a long-term warming trend and this will likely lead to an increase in extreme heat waves, drought and intense precipitation events this century. These extreme events which are normally rare will become more common." So while winter may get milder in the years to come, we can also expect it to get much, much crazier.

Page 38 Crownlines October 2013 FAI News

2013 FAI Awards Ceremony Our own Mary Ann Stevens received the prestigious Tissander diploma.

The 2013 FAI Awards Ceremony took place at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event, which is one of the highlights of the year for the federation, honours all those who made outstanding contributions to the world of aeronautics and astronautics.

Paul Tissandier Diploma This diploma is awarded to those who have served the cause of aviation in general and sporting aviation in particular, by their work or devotion. Jo VAN DE WOESTYNE (BEL) Mary-Anne STEVENS (CAN) Mario Arenas WILDNER (CHI) Eng. Samir Abdel Raouf LABIB (EGY) Andrea TOMASI (ITA) Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Basir Bin Abdul RAHMAN (MAS) Juan Ramón Álvarez CARAMAZANA (ESP) Yvonne Margaret LOADER (NZL) Pavol KAVKA (SVK)

Page 39 Crownlines October 2013 Transport Canada News Removal of Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) from Transport Canada’s website CARAC members,

The Government of Canada (GC) has recently launched a Web Renewal Action Plan that will see the consolidation of all departmental online presences into one GC website by the end of fiscal year 2015-2016. This government-wide initiative is an opportunity to make a positive change in how the Government serves, communicates with and engages Canadians. As a one-stop shop for all government information, this new website will be easy to use and to navigate, helping users accomplish what they came to do as quickly as possible. To do its part, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) has begun looking at its online presence and looking at the most effective ways of implementing the Web Renewal Action Plan. As a part of this initiative, the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) were removed from the Transport Canada (TC) website on August 31, 2013. Given that the Department of Justice (DoJ) is the official publisher of all Canadian regulations, including the CARs, the decision has been made to remove the thousands of TC pages that are currently dedicated to the CARs. For ease of access, TCCA will continue to make the index of the CARs available from the TC website, with the subparts linking directly to the DoJ website. The index of the Standards, incorporated by reference, will continue to be accessible directly from the TC website. Additionally, all new CARs coming into force will continue to be promoted on TC’s website, with a link to the DoJ website for easy access to the regulations. TCCA is working hard to ensure that this transition is seamless and will be communicating all future changes on the Canadian Aviation Regulations page of the TC website. For further information on these changes, please contact the Civil Aviation Communications Centre:

Email: [email protected] Telephone:1-800-305-2059 or (613) 993-7284 Fax: (613) 957-4208 Mail: Transport Canada Civil Aviation Communication Centre (AARCB) Place de Ville, Tower C 330 Sparks Street Ottawa ON

Page 40 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight August 9, 2013 Update:

Hello Balloonists, friends: I’ve been on-site in Maine for 11 weeks, waiting on the weather system that will carry me and my balloons in manned trans-Atlantic flight across the big blue deep. We do *not* yet have a confirmed weather sys- tem. Instead we hear rumors, whispers at the edge of hearing, that maybe the right system is coming.

I will let you know if the rumors prove to be true, and if the whispers grow to a roar. At that time, we will activate. For now, we wait for the right moment.

NBC - WLBZ-TV – Bill Green’s Maine

If you are in Maine and would like to see a program covering our flight, you can tune in to Bill Green’s Maine tomorrow night at 7pm on WLBZ, NBC in Maine.

Saturday - August 10, 2013 at 7pm

Federal Aviation Administration

Those of you that have been following our progress for months know that we had some frustrations working with a new regional office of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. We have worked with the FAA for years on our cluster balloon flights, and have worked with them on this particular flight since last year. But, I am up in the far corner of my country, in Caribou Maine, which falls under the jurisdiction of a different FAA regional office. This office did not have the same background and familiarity with our craft, and our fo- cus on safe operations. In the end, this FAA regional office reviewed our plan, and then deferred back to the regional office we had been working with all along, for years. My ‘home’ FAA office issued a new airworthi- ness certificate and a new set of operating limitations to correct one word that was causing a problem with the old docs. Done! Excel- lent.

I have those new documents in my hand. Thank you to the professionals at the FAA for reviewing our aircraft and flight on the basis of its merits, and working with us to allow for safe, legal flight.

I will update you all as we move towards flight.

We are just waiting on weather!

-Trappe

Page 41 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight August 9, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

When will the weather come? We are NO-GO this week! We must let a weather system blow through that we evaluated closely as a potential ride across the Atlantic.

FAA:

The FAA sent an inspector from the nearest district office (which is downstate, about 300 miles away) up here to the county on a cargo plane, then to our hangar at the Caribou airport to inspect my aircraft. He spent about three hours with the aircraft, looking at the HF radio, oxygen system, aircraft radios, trans- ponder, trackers, power supply, immersion suit, severe low temp gear, aviation GPS, the gondola, rigging, risers, balloons, waivers, registration, airworthiness docs, and everything in between. After the three hour visit, and some photo taking, he asked for the tracker URLs so he could watch the flight as it progressed, and he wished us safe travels on our expedition. 

First candidate weather system of the season:

This week we had our first weather system that was a strong candidate for a great trans-Atlantic flight. From a high level, we need three things:

1.) Weather that will support safe inflation / standing of the aircraft

2.) A trajectory across the water to Europe or Africa

3.) Safe en-route weather – e.g. no thunderstorms in the middle of the Atlantic or at landing

1.) Trajectory

For an inflation starting this coming Thursday night, with a launch this Friday morning, here is what we had for the 96- hour trajectory runs if flying at 4,000, 5,000, or 6,000 meters altitude—which is getting pretty damn high:

Note that *all* of the trajectories, at all of those altitudes, make landfall well within 96 hours.

Blue - 4,000 meter flying altitude – landfall @ 72 hours –Ireland

Red - 5,000 meter flying altitude – landfall @ 60 hours – France

Green - 6,000 meter flying altitude – landfall @ 42 hours – France

Page 42 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

Note the shorter times to landfall at higher flight altitudes: 42 hours up high vs. 72 hours lower. Obviously we’re getting speed with height. However, at 6,000 meters / 20,000 feet, that would be a very long 42 hours! It would be extremely cold, especially at night, and I would also burn my oxygen very fast. So, it would be better to fly a lower altitude profile where it is a little warmer, and more oxygen-rich; I would have a longer flight, but well within our ‘fuel’ limits, and not as physiologically demanding as 42 hours at 20,000 feet.

Also note that we have essentially ‘uniflow’ winds—they all go the right way. If I missed my target altitude, I wouldn’t blow backwards towards North America, or spin wildly off to Reykjavik in the north or the Azores in the south; all roads lead to a landfall, Europe.

So, trajectories showed a good possibility.

2.) Local weather at inflation.

What about standing the aircraft? Could I stand the aircraft Thursday night? The graph showed wind at 6mph at sunset….dropping to 3mph at 2:00am. Ok, that 6mph isn’t great, but (because it drops off in the night, and there are no gusts), it is possible:

Also note the rain; accumulation would be very small—e.g. .02-inches. So, not enough to cancel the infla- tion, but not great.

Note the temp/dew point split, and how long they are on top of each other— until 1.5 hours after sun- rise. So, there could be surface fog at launch time, which could mean sitting around with an inflated aircraft, waiting for the surface fog to burn off and VFR flight conditions to return.

3.) En-route weather

The trajectories were good, the local weather at inflation was not ideal, or even marginal, but possible (wind at the limit at start of inflation, but dropping to 3mph before cluster assem- bly; surface fog until after sunrise, but burning off before winds and thermals kick in; chance of small rain shower, but no thunderstorms.)

What about en-route weather? Do you see that low pressure, in the first quarter of the Atlantic, below? Note the intensity of the color. That could yield significant thunderstorms en- route. Thunderstorms could readily end our flight in the worst way.

So, would this be a go, or No-go? This was a NO -GO, partially because of the weather at the infla- tion & launch, but more because of en-route weather. Page 43 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

This was our first ‘maybe’ of the flight season. We watched it carefully; the meteorologist studied the data, and his analysis greatly informed our flight, and my decision not to fly. I will now have to wait for this pat- tern to blow through and clear, then allow everything in the atmosphere to ‘reset.’ I then allow the next ride across the water to develop! I’m very anxious to go—but it is only August 14th. We have all of August, and all of September to wait for the right system—a ‘non-marginal’ system; I will be staking my life on that weather pattern, on those winds across the great Atlantic Ocean, so we had to let this one slip by, and wait for a system that is not marginal.

Ready, in Caribou, to fly the greatest flight of my life.

-Trappe

August 22, 2013 Update:

Hello Balloonists, friends: The meteorologist sees a weather system developing that may allow our long-dreamed, long-planned trans- Atlantic launch out of Caribou, Maine in the last days of August, or the first days of September. If that sys- tem develops in a favorable fashion, I will be calling on this team as we activate and move towards the big inflation night!

We could be inflating and launching as early as August 30/31--- or into the first days of September. But, it is still too early to tell. For now we will let the weather system develop, and allow the different weather models come into alignment. I will update you as we get closer!

Television:

This NBC program shows our aircraft on-site in Caribou Maine, some lovely flight footage from our earlier expedi- tions, and it gives a nice shout-out to some of the community members that form our inflation team, including the Rotarians, Civil Air Patrol, and Caribou Volutneer Firefighters!

http://youtu.be/TM9oSFmKqQs

Weather analysis:

Right now there is a disagreement in

Page 44 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight magnitude between two weather forecast- ing models, the GFS and the Canadian model. The disagreement is the difference between a flight that crosses the great At- lantic ocean and makes landfall in continen- tal Europe, or one that gets pushed up into Iceland.

If you look at the Canadian model forecast on the left, you will see the gradient be- tween the mid-Atlantic high and the Nordic low. It is a steep enough gradient for a fluid (and my balloon!) to flow along those iso- baric lines to a landfall in the northern part of the UK— Scotland. However, the GFS model shows the mid-Atlantic high a little stronger, at 1035mb , and the Nordic low weaker, at 990. The gradient isn’t as strong, so the speeds would be slower, and the track doesn’t make it to continental Europe; the high bulges mid-Atlantic, and I would get pushed north to Iceland—and the track I love to hate: Reykjavik! So, we will have to wait for these models to come into agreement—hopefully along the lines of the Canadian model!

I will keep you updated; I promise. I will need your help when the big night comes! If you don’t get an email, it just means we are waiting for a clarification in the weather pattern to develop. Other than weather, we are ready to go!

In Caribou, staring at the sky~ and heading to the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival this weekend!

-Trappe August 26, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

Nobody said crossing the Atlantic by balloon would be easy! This remains true; the key thing now is to get the right weather—and the only way to do that is to 1.) have good meteorologist and 2.) be patient. We have a good meteorologist. We are patient. No launch likely this coming weekend, unless there is a sharp turn around. I will say this: in the history of manned flight, there have been exactly two manned gas balloons to cross the Atlantic from the United States. One went in August. One went in September. We are right between those two right now. We are in the peak season! August, 1978 - August 11-17 – Anderson/Abruzzo/(Newman) – Double Eagle II

Page 45 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

September, 1984 - September 14-18, Kittinger – Rosie O’Grady’s Balloon of Peace We are in the peak period, right now. We wait for a weather system that will allow a crossing. In the last email I mentioned a weather system that might support our flight in the last days of August, or the first days of September. This opportunity is moving into the first days of September timeframe—perhaps the 2nd through 5th—but we do not know yet. When the weather system comes, the communication from me will be clear. If there are no mails…it just means there is no weather system that meets the criteria developing in front of us. OK—for a little fun, I am attaching the tracks from those two great flights! Something colorful to look at, and something to put positive energy into—focusing on getting a track like that! -Trappe

Page 46 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight August 28, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

We have been working on our trans-Atlantic gas balloon flight for two solid years, and I have been on site in Caribou for 15 weeks. We have been methodical, and we have been patient. We now have rumors of weather that may allow balloon inflation for the big flight to begin this week- end. We would have a briefing at the Caribou Municipal Airport on Friday night for all volunteers (and espe- cially team leads.) We would then begin actual balloon inflation this Saturday evening. HOWEVER – we must wait at least one more day before we swing into action, and start the ramping up physical dimensions of this expedition—like having the 52,000 pounds of steel helium tanks delivered. Right now, we have a hint—a rumor—that we may be able to go on Saturday. Our patience will continue; we must wait another day. I will give you an update tomorrow, Thursday 8/28/2013 by 4pm EDT. Weather: we will never have a bright, sunny day that will also get me across the Atlantic Ocean. Those days, with sun and no wind, would never allow me to fly the distance I need to make landfall across the ocean. Instead, we may well have weather that is not sunny and perfect—but will be beautiful for me. The decision we are looking at now is to see: if local weather is good enough to safely stand the aircraft, if the trajectories are good for Europe, if there is no significant weather en-route, and to confirm that there will be safe weather to land in on the other side. But, it might even be drizzly at inflation! If you don’t have a rain jacket…..now is the time to head to Sleep- ers! Until tomorrow, -Trappe August 29, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

I would cry, if I wasn’t laugh- ing so much. Well, maybe both. We are no-Go.

There will be no trans- Atlantic ballooning this weekend. The weather sys- tem amplified, and the track deteriorated to a comical degree. Are you kidding me? Look:

Page 47 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

I would cry, if I wasn’t laughing so much. Well, maybe both. We are no-Go.

There will be no trans-Atlantic ballooning this week- end. The weather system amplified, and the track deteriorated to a comical degree. Are you kidding me? Look:

Uh, though we did have a bit of water forecast. But, that was a slight chance, with less than 1-mm in 18 hours. Any- way, not perfect from a rain perspective. (Ignoring the fact that I would be doing curly-Q’s in the mid-Atlantic once I launched.)

Alas. We let this one blow through—and maybe a new one sets up in a week.

-Trappe

September 8, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

Years I have dreamed of this. Years we have prepared. Now is the time. Manned trans-Atlantic ballooning, using helium balloons—from CARIBOU, MAINE! We are moving forward! Helium is on the way! TRAINING SESSION – RECEIVE YOUR FIELD ACCESS BADGES – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th at the Caribou air- port hangar Tomorrow, Monday, 6:00 PM EDT Caribou Municipal Airport INFLATION will be later in the week; details provided at the training session. Come to the training session to get details on the inflation time and day TRAINING SESSION: This Monday, 6:00 PM EDT - Caribou Municipal Airport

Page 48 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

All team members that would like to participate in the inflation of this trans-Atlantic balloon system will need to receive their field-access badges, and participate in an informational briefing. This will be a 45- minute session at the Caribou Municipal Airport, front hanger. What to bring: Only yourself. No gear needed. What to expect: We will go over some pictures of prior inflations, so you can understand what the field lay- out looks like, and generally what you will be seeing and doing on the big day. We will then do a mock infla- tion of one of each of the two balloon types, so you can understand what the actual inflation will be like. Honestly, on the big night, you will be inflating balloons, then helping assemble this Guinness World Record setting cluster of balloons! We all understand ‘inflating balloons’ but this session will give us a chance to demo and discuss. INFLATION NIGHT – MEETING TIME TO BE COMMUNICATED AT THE BRIEFING: I have written one-million words on this flight, and here is where it starts—with you, on the airfield! What to expect: o At the crew briefing Monday night at the Caribou Airport, we will give you your field-access badge and tell you the meet time. o Two experienced members will demo the inflation of the first balloon. o The team leads will then group with their teams, and each team lead will inflate a balloon. o From there, we will all break into groups of 2-3 to fully ramp-up inflation! o The first 100 cells will be inflated. As balloons are inflated, they are clipped off to the helium tanks that are spaced around the field. See attached examples. o 1 tank of helium per balloon. o After 100 cells are inflated, we will meet at the center again, have another demo, and move onto 270 the second type of balloon. o We have a grand total of 370 balloons. When we have ~75% inflated, I will instruct you on how to start ‘harvesting’ the balloons from around the field and bring them to the gondola at the center of the field, to build/assemble the cluster. o Team members with strong hands and arms, with leather gloves, are helpful at this point. All the above is light work; starting with the assembly, some upper body strength is needed. o This process will run into the dark of the night. We will have field lights o We will have water, Gatorade, and bananas throughout the night. o We will have Tim Hortons delivered after dark. o We will have fun, participating in the first manned trans-Atlantic balloon flight in a generation—and the absolute first of its type! o During inflation, no children can be on the inflation field; we have many high-pressure helium cylinders that they could trip on or hurt themselves on, and the overall environment is not safe for children. How-

Page 49 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight ever, if children have a parent or guardian to care for them, there is outstanding viewing in the bleachers and there is an excellent raised walking path all around the entire inflation site! Everything can be seen! o The event will be filmed for television. Maybe you will be famous. Please be aware. o We have our own media contact and outreach professionals; please refer all media to me or just say ‘Talk to the Barcroft guys.’ o Please do not bring cameras with a removable lens, ‘pro-sumer’ cameras, or professional cameras. Cell phone pics are fine! o We do not know the launch time. It depends on the amount of time it takes to inflate the balloons, which is anticipated to be several hours at least, depending on our team! What to bring: Enthusiasm! Excitement! The desire to inflate balloons and be part of this uncommon, and even completely unique, expedition! And, please bring: o Gloves, Warm: The inflation hoses get covered with ice during inflation. The ideal gloves would be warm and have a water slicking outer coating. o Gloves, Leather: When we assemble the cluster, we handle the riser lines when they are taut. Leather gloves are good for this. o Outdoor/adventure clothing: We think of the balloons being light and full of fantasy; they are; but your clothing should be rugged. o Boots, waterproof: The field could be wet; if you have waterproof boots, these will help. o Waterproof shell - jacket/slacks: The inflation could be wet—either from some harmless precipitation, or condensation. It is best if you have an outer layer/shell that is waterproof--- a windbreaker. o Warm clothing, in layers: If you are from Northern Maine, you likely could teach volumes on warm cloth- ing. J But, for everyone, please bring warm clothing; we will inflate into the night, and the temperature can drop; please bring layers that you can add and remove to be comfortable. o HAT. Warm. Tracking in-flight, for the 3-6 days I will be in the sky: o I have a satellite device that allows me to post status to Facebook during the flight. I can’t add you as a friend in the air, so please ‘Follow’ on Facebook to read the status during the flight. You can do that by click- ing the ‘follow’ button here: http://tinyurl.com/TrappeFacebookFollow o *After flight starts* these trackers will show my location; they don’t show anything beforehand. · http://tinyurl.com/TrappeSPOT · http://tinyurl.com/TrappeInReach · http://tinyurl.com/TrappeAPRS <-- Only within ~150 miles of land

Page 50 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

If you read all the way to the bottom of this email, it means you are serious crew. I need you. The type of person that is excited and dedicated enough to read this entire mail is exactly the type of person I need right now, to help stand this aircraft. Decades from now, we will remember this flight. Please reply back to me or your team lead that you are coming, so I can confirm team headcount! This will give me the count of the hard-core people—those that read the entire email, and took the requested action: replying back that you are coming. The most important thing is that we have a safe inflation and that I thank you for your contribution to this flight. I will start thanking you right now: THANK YOU! -Jonathan R. Trappe N878UP – Trans-continental Cluster Balloon

September 9, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

I haven’t stopped moving in 18 hours. Preparing. May have our chance in front of us. Lighter-than-air gas has hit the field. The men and women that got these tanks onto the site are amazing.

74 people at briefing. Aroostook rocks. Mainers, you are amaz- ing. The people of the county are amazing. We are close. Weather update with go/no-go decision communicated by email 5:00pm EDT tomorrow. Don’t go to the launch until we give a go; not there yet. No cake walk.

Page 51 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight

Working on it. -Trappe

September 10, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

We are moving forward with the first trans-Atlantic flight of its kind! We are GO to meet on the airfield! If you are confirmed crew, and you have your field access badge, please GO TO THE AIRFIELD, 6AM EDT TO- MORROW, WEDNESDAY INFLATION IS WEDNESDAY, TOMORROW, 6:00 AM This Wednesday, 6:00 AM EDT Soucie Memorial Sports Complex 59 Sincock Street Caribou, ME “Where they play soccer.” Turn off of Maine street at the Superintendent’s office. Bring your field access pass. http://tinyurl.com/SoucieLaunchSite THANK YOU- thank you—one more time thank you. See you in the morning, sunrise, on the airfield--- -Trappe Reminders on what to expect: Honestly, on the big day, you will be inflating balloons, then helping assemble this Guinness World Record setting cluster of balloons! We all understand ‘inflating balloons’ but the below details will help you prepare for the big night. We should *not* expect a completely dry day! We may have moisture! Bring water slicking clothes! INFLATION: I have written one-million words on this flight, and here is where it starts—with you, on the airfield! Expectations: o We will start on the field on Wednesday Morning, 6:00am with a briefing, so please come early or on- time so we can make sure you are 100% up to speed! Bring your field access badges. o Two experienced members will demo the inflation of the first balloon. o The team leads will then group with their teams, and each team lead will inflate a balloon. o From there, we will all break into groups of 2-3 to fully ramp-up inflation!

Page 52 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight o The first 100 cells will be inflated. As balloons are inflated, they are clipped off to the helium tanks that are spaced around the field. See attached examples. o 1 tank of helium per balloon. o After 100 cells are inflated, we will meet at the center again, have another demo, and move onto 270 the second type of balloon. o We have a grand total of 370 balloons. When we have ~75% inflated, I will instruct you on how to start ‘harvesting’ the balloons from around the field and bring them to the gondola at the center of the field, to build/assemble the cluster. o Team members with strong hands and arms, with leather gloves, are helpful at this point. All the above is light work; starting with the assembly, some upper body strength is needed. o This process will run into the dark of the night. We will have field lights o We will have Tim Hortons delivered at dawn. o We will have water, Gatorade, and bananas throughout the day. o We will have fun, participating in the first manned trans-Atlantic balloon flight in a generation—and the absolute first of its type! o During inflation, no children can be on the inflation field; we have many high-pressure helium cylinders that they could trip on or hurt themselves on, and the overall environment is not safe for children. How- ever, if children have a parent or guardian to care for them, there is outstanding viewing in the bleachers and there is an excellent raised walking path all around the entire inflation site! Everything can be seen! o The event will be filmed for television. Maybe you will be famous. Please be aware. J o We have our own media contact and outreach professionals; please refer all media to me or just say ‘Talk to the Barcroft guys.’ o Please do not bring cameras with a removable lens, ‘pro-sumer’ cameras, or professional cameras. Cell phone pics are fine! o We do not know the launch time. It depends on the amount of time it takes to inflate the balloons, de- pending on our team! What to bring: Enthusiasm! Excitement! The desire to inflate balloons and be part of this uncommon, and even completely unique, expedition! And, please bring: o Gloves, Warm: The inflation hoses get covered with ice during inflation. The ideal gloves would be warm and have a water slicking outer coating. o Gloves, Leather: When we assemble the cluster, we handle the riser lines when they are taut. Leather gloves are good for this. o Outdoor/adventure clothing: We think of the balloons being light and full of fantasy; they are; but your clothing should be rugged.

Page 53 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight o Boots, waterproof: The field could be wet; if you have waterproof boots, these will help. o Waterproof shell - jacket/slacks: The inflation could be wet—either from some harmless precipitation, or condensation. It is best if you have an outer layer/shell that is waterproof--- a windbreaker—and similar pants. o Warm clothing, in layers: If you are from Northern Maine, you likely could teach volumes on warm cloth- ing. J But, for everyone, please bring warm clothing; we will inflate into the night, and the temperature can drop; please bring layers that you can add and remove to be comfortable. o HAT. Warm. Tracking in-flight, for the 3-6 days I will be in the sky: o I have a satellite device that allows me to post status to Facebook during the flight. I can’t add you as a friend in the air, so please ‘Follow’ on Facebook to read the status, as written from the balloon during the flight. You can do that by clicking the ‘follow’ button here: http://tinyurl.com/TrappeFacebookFollow o *After flight starts* these trackers will show my location; they don’t show anything beforehand. · http://tinyurl.com/TrappeSPOT · http://tinyurl.com/TrappeInReach · http://tinyurl.com/TrappeAPRS <-- Only within ~150 miles of land

September 11, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

For the team that hit the field early this morning --- thank you! You are die hard, and amazing! For those who are far away: the trajectories for a trans-Atlantic flight are good; landfall! Across the great Atlantic Ocean! We are having to dodge local weather—and since we can’t ‘dodge’ by steering our aircraft away from the storms, we dodge by changing our inflation start time. We still have the opportunity for this great flight, in this weather system. We are meeting with the pilots and team meteorologist at 3pm EDT, with the team email coming to you around 4pm. If the thunderstorm threat diminishes, we would be then meet on the airfield at 6pm for a night inflation tonight. Um, waterproof shoes would be in order. Field is a little…wet. (Like soup is wet.) I will update you at 4pm—and thank you so much! -Trappe

Page 54 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight September 11, 2013 Update: Hello Balloonists, friends:

NOW. TONIGHT. 9:00PM. WET! Can you deal with a wet field? Do you have gear for northern Maine, and a wet field? Do you have boots? IF SO, WE NEED YOU TONIGHT. THIS IS IT. We’re going to have one more storm blow across the field, in the next couple of hours. We know that. The tanks will get wet again. As soon as that wet blows through, IT IS OUR TIME. We have the trajectories; we just need to get in the air. Overnight winds are GOOD! We just wait for one last storm cell to blow over sunny Caribou, and we GO. It won’t be easy; it is important to me. Can you make it? 9:00pm. SOUCIE. SINCOCK. I NEED YOU. One more storm to blow across the field in the next couple hours, then is our time!!! We knew it was not easy; it has never been done, in the history of manned flight, not like this. If any community can do it, we can. Bring your friends! All hands on deck! We will need the help! Let’s inflate!!!! -Trappe

September 12, 2013 Update from Hans Åkerstedt: Jonathan Trappe launched early this morning, US Eastern time, in a cluster balloon system. He launched from Caribou, Northeastern Maine, and is now, 6 hours later, about to cross the coast- line. At launch he had 370 latex balloons and a kevlar boat as gondola.

Page 55 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight Daredevil IT manager attempts to cross the Atlantic simply by clinging to helium BAL- LOONS... but winds could blow him anywhere from Ice- land to Morocco Jonathan Trappe, 39, took off from Maine on Thursday morning and expects the journey to Europe will take him be- tween 3 and 5 days He could land anywhere between Iceland and Morocco To control the aircraft, he will pop bal- loons or drop ballast Five people have died during 12 conven- tional hot air balloon attempts http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article- 2418598/Jonathan-Trappe-IT-manager- attempts-cross-Atlantic-simply-clinging- helium-BALLOONS.html

A daring aviator today began the world's first ever attempt to cross the Atlantic ocean dangling precariously from a massive cluster of helium-filled balloons.

Jonathan Trappe, 39, did not allow heavy fog to put him off his nail-biting journey on Thursday morning and achieved lift-off at 6.20am from Cari- bou, Maine.

Like a fairytale from the Disney movie 'Up', the North Carolina man will at- tempt to make the 2,500-mile solo trip to Europe relying on 370 colorful balloons filled with helium.

It is a feat that has never been attempted before, but Mr Trappe has not allowed that - or the fact that five people have

Page 56 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight died trying to cross the Atlantic in conventional hot air balloons - to deter him.

'I'm just as afraid of dying as anyone,' he said. 'But I go for- ward in the spirit of adventure, doing something nobody has achieved before, and to live an interesting life.'

A successful crossing will see Trappe fly into the history books as the first person ever to scale the ocean in a flight of this type.

Incredibly, winds could see him land anywhere between Iceland and Morocco after a journey expected to take between three and five days.

Trappe is relying on state-of-the-art weather data from the meteorologist who advised Felix Baumgartner on his record-breaking skydive from the stratosphere last year.

The latest weather reports before the launch suggested winds would take Trappe to western Europe.

'Weather is absolutely the most dangerous factor,' said Trappe speaking immediately before launch. 'But it's a double-edged sword. It's the only thing that will carry me across, but bad conditions could also ruin the at- tempt or endanger my life.'

Trappe and his team had faced an agonising wait of more than 100 days in Caribou for weather conditions good enough to carry him across the 'Pond', typical for this time of year.

Global weather systems being monitored by the project meteorologists stared lining up on Monday, but local storms around Maine threatened to destroy the cluster balloon system and forced Trappe to stay grounded.

Trappe, an IT technical project manager from Raleigh, North Carolina, said: 'It was nail biting waiting for a weather window that would allow me to get up into the air and catch those transatlantic winds we'd been see- ing.

'I need to get on them and ride them across like a conveyor belt.'

During the crossing, Trappe faces climbing as high as 25,000ft to ride the winds that will propel him towards Europe.

To ascend he'll drop ballast and will pop balloons or release them into the air if he needs to fly lower because

Page 57 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight favourable winds are at lower altitudes.

Trappe already holds the record for the longest ever cluster balloon flight of 14 hours, but said: 'This is far greater than anything achieved before, I'm looking at 62 hours or longer.'

He became the only person to have crossed the English Channel by cluster balloon in May 2010, and the Alps in September 2011. Previous flights have seen him travel in a simple office chair suspended by the balloons.

This time he's elected to dangle inside a small yellow life boat in case he ditches into the ocean. 'If I touch down on water then the attempt will be over as it will be impossible to take off again, but the boat will keep me alive.'

It will be incredibly dangerous as I could be several days away from any rescue crew and it will mean surviv- ing rough seas for a long time, alone.'

While Trappe is the first ever to attempt an Atlantic cluster balloon crossing, five people have died trying to cross the ocean in 12 total attempts using hot-air balloons or more conventional single gas balloons.

In 2008, Brazilian priest Adelir Antônio de Carli died after he drifted out to sea while trying to set a record for a flight using helium-filled party balloons.

Father Adelir Antonio de Carli began his flight suspended in a harness-like seat from 1,000 balloons in the southern port of Paranagua.

He had intended to fly 20 hours due west, but unexpected winds carried the 42-year-old out over the south Atlantic on a southeasterly course.

Also advising on the project is aviation hero Colonel Joseph Kittinger.

Kittinger, 84, acted as Capsule Communicator during Felix Baumgartner's skydive from space and was the first person to make a solo Atlantic crossing by gas balloon, in 1984.

'I accepted the role of advisor on this pro- ject because I want to help a young man achieve his dream, to reach his goal,' said Kittinger.

'Like me, Trappe wants to be remembered for achieving something that nobody has achieved before him. I'm here because I believe he can do it. His planning has been meticulous and if anyone can make this, he can.'

The latest update on the IT specialist's

Page 58 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight blog said he was travelling at 39mph, approximately 70 miles out over the Atlantic from the New Brunswick Coast.

Trappe will keep in touch with his team on land via satellite phone.

He sent his first message shortly after taking off this morning to Chief Meteorologist, Don Day.

It read: 'DON OK W SPEED & HEAD? I KNOW I AM HIGH. COMING DOWN,' checking the team was happy with the speed the balloons were travelling at.

Page 59 Crownlines October 2013 Update—Trans-Atlantic Cluster Balloon Flight Balloonist stranded in Newfoundland rescued by CBC Helicopter chartered by CBC to cover story ends up rescuing adventurer Jonathan Trappe Posted: Sep 13, 2013 8:28 AM NT Last Updated: Sep 13, 2013 7:37 PM NT http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/09/13/nl-balloon-crossing- newfoundland-landing-913.html

Jonathan Trappe, a balloonist who had been attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean but was forced to land in a remote area on Newfoundland's west coast, was picked up on Friday afternoon by a helicopter that had been chartered by CBC to conduct an aerial survey of the area. "I've never been so glad to see the media," Trappe told CBC News videojournalist Lindsay Bird when she found him. Trappe left Caribou, Maine, near the New Brunswick border, on Thursday in a small boat suspended below more than 300 helium-filled balloons. He may not have made it to his European destination, but Trappe said the journey was about more than that. "We set out on this expedition for the adventure, and we got the adventure," Trappe said. "The destination was always unknown, and it's pretty grand where we've come in to. It's not the destination I set out for, but it's kind of the way with real adventure — adventure isn't what you planned on, it's what you find, and that's what we have today." Trappe said he was burning through ballast too quickly to make it across the Atlantic and was forced to choose between landing in the isolated woods Thursday night or ditching over the ocean sometime Friday. Once he was on the ground, Trappe said, he contacted his crew via satellite message to assure them that he was safe and there was not an emergency. "The Atlantic Ocean has been crossed many times, and in many ways, but never quite like this," Trappe said in a promotional video. "Hmm, this doesn't look like France," Trappe wrote in a post on hisFacebook page Thursday. Shortly after, Trappe posted that he had set up an exposure canopy on his boat to settle in for the night and included a link to a satellite map showing his location. Trappe, who had intended to become the first person to fly across the Atlantic with only the aid of cluster balloons, landed in a remote area south of the small Bay of Islands community of Lark Harbour. Much of the area surrounding where Trappe landed is impassable. There are no roads leading to the location, but residents had been trying to reach him on ATVs, without suc- cess. Trappe has made a name as an adventurer using clusters of balloons, including flying in a house, much as in the Disney-Pixar animated film Up

Page 60 Crownlines October 2013

Calling All Creative Membership Renewal

Minds! New year—time to renew your mem- bership. The Crownlines is a place to share information amongst members. Please submit articles, pic- We would appreciate you re- tures, or ideas. Don‘t worry about polishing them minding your friends/peers/ crew up so they are perfect, the newsletter is a group of this matter. Also new collaboration, so help is always around to spiffy members are always wel- things up! We need your creative thinking! come!

As you can see the 2013 fees remain the same as in Website! previous years. Once updated, we www.ncballoonclub.ca will e-mail the membership list to you and post it on the NCBC website. The new website is now available with options to post information and communicate with both the 2013 NCBC membership fees are now due. public and other club members. Rates remain the same: Suggestions and help are always appreciated. Please contact your board members with sug- Crew - $20 gestions or offers of assistance. Pilot - $30 Family - $40 Corporate - $100 Publishing Information

The Crownlines is published on an ad-hoc basis The membership form can be accessed from as determined by volunteer effort, spirit, and the NCBC website. content contributions. If you want it published more often – submit content! Submissions are For more information you can email the club at preferred by email to [email protected]. [email protected]. Photos, articles, and ideas are always welcome. We welcome new members at any time—so

Material published in the Crownlines from members or please encourage your friends & crew to join other sources does not imply endorsement of, or agree- and share in the great experience of hot air bal- ment with, any opinions, comments or products presented looning. by the author, by the National Capital Balloon Club (NCBC), it’s officers and Newsletter Editor.

The NCBC publishes this newsletter for its members and interested parties. Portions of this newsletter may be reprinted, with prior permis- sion, and if credit is given to the writer and to NCBC. The opinions expressed are not neces- sarily those of the organization or members of this organization.

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