“Commander Matt” Wiederkehr Inducted in the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame July 29, 2012 By the Balloon Federation of America at the National Balloon Museum, Indianola, Iowa
Matt and his family witnessed the 1st Hot Air Balloon Race in the U.S. during the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Matt was hooked! 1962
Organizing Committee for the 2nd Matt inventorying equipment before he built St. Paul Winter Carnival Balloon AX- 2 First Club Matt’s 1st balloon. N1926R the balloonport in 1979. Photo early 70’s. Race. Matt is in striped shirt, Ed Yost balloon $450. 4MM BTU burner. Became checkered sweater with cap. 1963 1967 Raven’s 1st Distributor. 1969
MATT SET 22 WORLD RECORDS & INSPIRED HIS DAUGHTERS TO SET 26 WORLD RECORDS 10 World Records in AX6. 1972 Note windy launch. Put gondola on a wheeled pallet and literally ran down a runway to allow the balloon to fully inflate and launch. High speed landing to the right. Bobbie is on the right at inflation and daughters on sidelines in 2nd pic.
4 World Records in AX-4 1973
8 World Records in AX-7 1974
16 year old daughter 14 year old daughter Denise on her record Donna preparing to flight. She established launch on her World 12 World Records and Record Flight. She raised money for a high established 14 World school friend battling Records. 1975 cancer. 1974 Matt and his daughters flew for over 60 advertising clients.
Completed writing the first formal training Columbia, curriculum in 1968. Matt's creative PR ideas while flying for Coca Cola at the First South On November 21, World Hot Air Balloon event led to a full time contract with The America 1969 the Minnesota Coca-Cola Company. 1973 Department of Aeronautics issued Wiederkehr the First Hot Air Balloon Commercial Operator’s License in the U.S.
Organized the 1st Safety Matt inspired the Bicentennial Aviation Organizing st Seminar in 1974. Organized Committee in Washington DC to have the 21 or participated in 50+ Anniversary of the St. Paul Winter Carnival Hot Air seminars. Balloon Race to be the “kick off” for the 1983 Air and Space Bicentennial. The event replaced the Space Shuttle “Challenger” launch, which was originally slated to kick off the celebration but was delayed due Matt’s balloon - replica of the Montgolfier to a fuel leak. President Ronald Reagan signed the Balloon. Artwork was hand painted and official proclamation. inlaid by Dave & Sue Johnson.
Indianola’s own Fr. Burns with Matt. He was like family and hosted the Wiederkehr family each year at the Indianola National Lifetime Friend and Balloonist Championships. NAA authorized Matt to present Orv Olivier with Matt and Bobbie. the Double Eagle II National Record Certificates to Maxie Anderson during the St. Paul Darlene Reisinger, an Winter Carnival Balloon event. extraordinary partner for Matt 1979 The Red Barons and The and Bobbie over the past 26 Roy Browns. A lifetime of years. laughter. Other Extraordinary Experiences
The World’s First Pressurized Hot Air Airship,120 ft. long, was traditionally piloted by Matt & Denise. Here is a special moment when daughters Denise and Donna piloted it together. 1977-1978 Tethering for Operation Sail. Matt congratulating Tall Ships from 30 Nations came daughter Denise for her to NYC for the US Bicentennial. 1st solo which occurred Note Twin Towers. 1976 inside the Houston Astrodome. 1973
Honored by Malcolm Forbes at his Chateau in Balleroy, France. 1st gas balloon ride. Presenting Malcolm with a replica of the Montgolfier. Thanks Kris Anderson. Malcolm included the Wiederkehr family in the dedication of one of his books. 1976 Working with Fredrick Eshoo on his solar balloon. 1978
Daughters receiving the Kitty Hawk Best Wishes from The Thunderbirds Youth Award from The LA Chamber after performing together at the of Commerce & Northrop Aviation. DuPage County Airshow. 1970 General “Chappie” James Jr.(left) Daughter Donna flying her Matt’s Patent for an and Lt. General Jimmy Dolittle AX-2 inside Matt’s cold improved deflation (2nd from right). 1976 inflated Sprite AX-7. system. 1983
Matt and his energetic wife Bobbie - his love, The Swiss Yodeler organizer, social director and ultimate chase car Too windy to fly? Time to sail. driver. Married 58 years and counting. “I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED MY DREAMS OVER THE YEARS...ESPECIALLY MY GUARDIAN ANGELS, GROUND CREWS, FELLOW PILOTS, MY DAUGHTERS DENISE AND DONNA, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY BETTER HALF BOBBIE. SHE’S BEEN MY PARTNER, AND SOULMATE OF 58 YEARS AND COUNTING, WITHOUT WHOM NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.”
MATT WIEDERKEHR
Select photos copyright Rick Souther & Jim Stegbauer MATT WIEDERKEHR LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENTS & CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOT AIR BALLOONING
1962 Witnessed the First Hot Air Balloon Race in the US at the St. Paul Winter Carnival event. Matt got involved immediately. Dedicated 18 years to organizing what was then the longest running hot air balloon race in the US. 1967 Helped form one of the first balloon clubs. 1967 Soloed in an AX-2 balloon, adding to his single engine fixed-wing license and several sailplane lessons. 1968 Matt created the first formal training curriculum. 1968 Matt coined the term “Floating and Drifting Billboards” to inspire advertisers to think about balloon promotions as an additional advertising medium. 1969 November 21st - the Minnesota Department of Aeronautics issued Wiederkehr the First Hot Air Balloon Commercial Operator’s License in the U.S. 1969 Purchased an S50 Raven Balloon w/ a 4 million BTU burner & became the 1st Distributor for Raven Industries. 1970 Experienced extreme thermal conditions and immediately contacted balloonists to share the story and encouraged others to never fly mid day in the summer. 1972 Established 22 World Records for a family total of 48. 1972 10 world records in AX-6 08 HOURS 48 MINS | 196.71 MILES 1973 4 world records in AX-4 05 HOURS 05 MINS | 85.43 MILES 1974 8 world records in AX- 7 16 HOURS 16 MINS | 337.23 MILES 1974 Daughter Denise established 12 world records at age 16. 11 HOURS 10 MINS | 228.00 MILES 1975 Daughter Donna established 14 world records at age 14. 02 HOURS 40 MINS |11 MILES | 1952FT 1972 One of the “Original 13” Pilots in Albuquerque. Sid Cutter contacted Matt to get more balloon pilots for the event. 1973 Matt soloed daughter Denise INSIDE the Houston Astrodome during one of his Mr. PiBB promotions. 1973 Participated in the First World Hot Air Balloon event. Matt created the idea of doing live radio station broadcasts from the Coca-Cola Balloon during the event, resulting in excellent public relations exposure. Within several weeks after the event, Wiederkehr Balloons was contracted to fly for The Coca-Cola Company to introduce new products, flying both nationally and internationally. Matt had resigned his job as a Mechanical Engineer which allowed him to expand the Coca-Cola fleet to 8 balloons. After the introduction of Mr. PiBB in Dallas, Texas the team won the International Award for Advertising and Selling Excellence. The success of the product introduction in the USA became a part of a marketing textbook.
1974 Conducted the first Safety Seminar for Hot Air Balloons. 1974 Instrumental in organizing the first Minneapolis Aquatennial Hot Air Balloon Race and funded the majority of expenses with his advertising clients and personal funds for 13 years. 1975 First Air Agency Certificate issued by the Minneapolis GADO-14, under the Revised FAR 141. This included all airplane and helicopter flight schools in the Great Lakes Region. 1975 Nominated by the BFA for the Montgolfier Diploma Award. 1975 Matt became a Designed Pilot Examiner. 1975 Speaker at the World Balloon Championship Balloon Seminar in Albuquerque - "A Reasonable Approach to Federal, State and Local Balloon Regulations”.
1976 Malcolm Forbes nominated Matt and his family for the Harmon Aeronaut Trophy, an annual international award presented to the World's Outstanding Aviator. 1976 In recognition of their achievements in Ballooning, Malcolm Forbes invited the Wiederkehr family to go to France to participate in the Second Annual Chateau de Balleroy Invitational Ballooning Meet. 1976 Daughter Denise received the Charles Lindbergh Award from the Minnesota Sport Aviation Association – presented annually to the outstanding Young Aviator of the Year. 1976 Daughters Denise and Donna were co-recipients of the prestigious Kitty Hawk Youth Award at the 14th Annual Wr i g h t Brothers Banquet sponsored by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Northrop Corporation. Lt General James Doolittle received the Civilian Award and General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. (Commander-in-Chief of the North American Air Defense Command) received the Military Award. A proud day for Matt. 1977 Operated the World’s 1st pressurized Hot Air Airship. 1978 Daughter Donna received the Charles Lindbergh Award. 1978 Worked with Fredrick Eshoo on his first flight of his solar balloon. Unlike prior explorations, this balloon was a traditional shape but had a unique clear panel on one side, allowing the sun's radiation to reflect off the inner surface, heating the inside air. 1979 Opened “Wiederkehr Balloon Academy” Balloonport: Rides, annuals, training, repairs and inlay artwork. Commitment to training: Matt created a thorough training curriculum that promoted safety, extensive knowledge, good judgment and a respect for one’s own limitations.
1979 Received authorization from the National Aeronautics Association to present the Double Eagle II National Record Certificates to Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo, and Larry Newman during the St Paul Winter Carnival Balloon event. Maxie attended the event and accepted the certificates on their behalf. 1981 A lifetime commitment to safety. Matt Organized the first National Pilot/Instructor and Designee Examiner Workshop and went on to organize, present at, or attend 50+ safety seminars. 1981 The Aeronautics Division of the Minnesota Department of Transportation requested Matt to present “Weather for Ultralight Aircraft” at their Safety Seminar. 1981 Instructor at the U.S. National Balloon Championship Safety Seminar; presented "In-Flight Procedures and Inflation Techniques". 1981 Helped Kris Anderson prepare for and launch his successful world-record-setting “Distance” flight in the Knight Hawk balloon. Kris flew from the Wiederkehr Balloonport to Fish Creek, West Virginia. 1982 Presented "Micrometeorology" at the EAA Convention in Oshkosh, WI in 1982 and 1984. 1982 Pilot Refresher Seminar Instructor at the National Hot Air Balloon Championship - Pilot Proficiency.
1982 BFA appointed Matt a member of the BFA Accident Investigation team. . 1983 At the request of the Aeronautics Division of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Matt presented “Micrometerology” at their Ultralight Safety Seminar. 1983 Received a patent for an improved deflation system. 1983 The United States Congress passed a bill proclaiming 1983 the “Year of the Air and Space Bicentennial”. U.S. Organizers of the Air and Space Bicentennial had planned to kick off the international celebration with the launch of the new space shuttle “Challenger”, but the flight was postponed because of a fuel leak. Matt sensed an opportunity and contacted the Committee in Washington, DC. This resulted in the following proclamation: “Minnesota will host the First Aeronautical Event of the Bicentennial Celebration of Man’s First Flight as a commemoration of all the heroic personal technical achievements of conquering the air and therefore expanding the boundaries of civilization.” President Ronald Reagan signed the official proclamation. George Albers graciously paid the USOC donation endorsement fee. 1987 Organized & promoted the Children’s Miracle Network Balloon Extravaganza for the Minnesota Telethon. 1993 Matt, Bobbie and Donna flew with life long ballooning friend Tom Gabel over the Masa Mara in Kenya, Africa. 1995 Recognized by the BFA for Excellence in exceptional performance and innovative contributions. 1995 Organized a Balloon Instructor Workshop and Zero Accident Program in St. Paul, MN. 1996 Organized a Balloon Instructor Workshop in St. Paul which included the FAA Lynn Harris from Oklahoma City and moderator Sid Cutter. 1998 Received BFA Flight Instructor Certificate. 2001 Matt contributed information and edited various articles for the “Balloon Flying Handbook" published by the FAA in Oklahoma City.