Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18261
Larry Ratkoviak Terri Ratkoviak Continued from page 8 Continued from page 8 tional mem- ber to our family, our five year old son Riley or as he likes to be called “crew chief”. Above and beyond the basic forms of social inter- action intrinsic to ballooning, the sport has provided me many other “opportunities of a lifetime”, as a member of the launch and recovery team for the first attempt at a transglob- al balloon flight, as a teacher of aviation and aerospace stud- ies, and promoter and origina- tor of the tissue paper balloon launch involving several thou- sand elementary and middle school teachers and students during the Great Reno Balloon Race. I have been a guest speaker, instructor and togeth- er with my wife, organizers of safety seminars, educational programs and occasional bal- looning events, including the Montague Balloon Fair, Califor- nia, Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic, Sonoma, California and The Great Reno Balloon Race, Reno, Nevada. My recent retirement after a successful career of nearly forty years in the Air National Guard, Active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserves has enabled me to expand my involvement in the ballooning community flying new events, conducting educational pro- grams, meeting new friends, and promoting the “wacky” sport of ballooning. ifornia so they could raise their son in the country. Terri & Larry (a pilot as well) have been together for 15 years. They enjoy being ‘Balloonmeis- ters’ of several events through- out the Pacific Northwest as well as hosting Safety Semi- nars for Pilots and Crew. Terri & Larry purchased another bal- loon in 2004, ‘Wind Dixie’, so that they could enjoy flying events together. They have an awesome crew of about 15 that follow them around enjoying this wonderful wacky sport. Ken Lehr Continued from page 8 Great Reno Balloon Race, Mon- tague, Ca, and Rolling Hills Casino. Two of Ken’s more memorable balloon flights took place flying inside the blimp hanger at Moffet Field, and doing a long jump over the Sierra’s from Prosser Reservoir to Stead Air Base north of Reno. However, the biggest reward in ballooning is still the friends we’ve made as we con- tinue to enjoy this sport. Marianne LeDoux Continued from page 8 efforts however, I received my com- mercial license in 1984. I became the local instructor, guiding students to their pilot's certificate. In 1986 Bob built our first homebuilt balloon, Castaway so that he would have a bal- loon to fly, as I somehow always managed to be the pilot-in-command. Thus started our life as a two balloon, two pilot family. Throughout the years we have continued our homebuilding and I currently fly our fifth homebuilt balloon, SewEZ. We travel to rallies around the Pacific Northwest and enjoy our beautiful local flying area. For several years I have been Balloonmeister at the Northwest Art and Air Fair in Albany, Oregon. This year it is August 27, 28 and 29th. In 1995 I won the Northwest Hot Air Balloon Championship competition flying SewHappy. I can claim to have been the only woman to have won the competition and am the reign- ing champion, since unfortu- nately the event was cancelled after that year. I fly balloons as a hobby, for the therapy, for the love of the sport and the friendships bal- looning brings, and for the opportunity to share the magic with others. The earth is never more beautiful than when seen from a hot air balloon. Jane Jennings Continued from page 8 the way. I had one flight in Fairbanks, Alaska where I took off at 11 pm and flew into the next day, all with ample daylight in late June. Flying in Fair- banks is a real challenge, with lots of trees, nasty tundra swamps, schools where we were not allowed to land and two major airports. We followed the local balloonists and landed, with per- mission, on the Air Force Base! One dream I've had was to fly in Monument Valley, Utah. Because it is a Navajo Tribal Park we were unable to get permission to fly there, however at the other end of the valley is the Valley of the Gods. We obtained permis- sion from the BLM and did man- age one flight there, which turned into a major adventure! Our per- mit restricted our chase vehicle to the only road and when I took off I found I either had to land very quickly or climb over a large peninsula of rock. I gambled and climbed, only to find that I could not find a favorable wind back to the road. I landed one rough mile from the road. We eventually found a friendly horseman with a pack horse and the balloon enve- lope rode out on the back of the horse! Ask me how to pack an envelope on a horse some time! We hired the local white water rafters to carry the basket out and they very cleverly used large oars looped though the support ropes and happily carried it out, singing "We're off to see the Wizard". Each flight is an adventure and a challenge. We've flown, briefly, on Long Island, New York, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, in Wisconsin, Indiana, Arkansas, Texas and most of the western states. We've made lots of new friends throughout the country and love ballooning! Gay James Continued from page 9 tional or relief pilot. I was also Assis- tant Secretary for the Pilot Associa- tion in Napa. I am now again the Assistant Secretary for the Pilot Assoc. in Napa. In 1989 I went to France to fly a one person, "chair" balloon during their Bi-Centennial Cel- ebration, along with 300 other pilots. The French govern- ment flew our balloons to France, gave us chase vehicles to use while we were there, and provided lodging at local hotels as well as with French families and provided breakfast of coffee, choco- late and a hard roll each morning at pilot briefing. From 1981, I flew at the AIBF every year until 1995 when I became one of only 7 paid employees for a 1000 balloon rally. I worked there for a year and then returned to Napa to fly balloon rides. I bought my first balloon, a one person, chair balloon, in 1995. When I returned Page 14 Friday, October 22, 2010 to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta as a pilot in 1996, which was the 25th Anniversary of the AIBF with 1000 pilots competing. I took 22nd place. I continued flying in the AIBF until 2001. Now I help out in one of the concession booths. In 1997 I married my balloon pilot husband, Russ James. I continued flying in Napa until late 2000 when we moved to Orland, CA. In 2008 I bought my 1st "real balloon" (one in which I could take people along with me). Now I fly an occa- sional paid ride, but mostly "fun fly," attending balloon rallies around the coun- try when I can. Fiddles, balloons, art and wine It’s a busy time in our area with many great events around the corner. It starts this week with the Western Open Fiddle Championship kick off concert with Billy and the Hillbillies starting at 7 p.m. at the Auditori- um at the Tehama District Fair- ground. The Fid- dle Champi- onship continues on for two full days thereafter. The Ribs, Rods and Rides are back this weekend at Rolling Hills Casino. Twenty Balloons will launch Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. (weather permitting). The Antique Car (Rods) show is Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. and the rib cook-off starts at 11 a.m. An added feature this year is an indoor Farmers Market in their convention Center. The Historic Downtown Red Bluff Art Walk sponsored by the Tehama County Arts Council is Nov. 5 and 6. Come and enjoy great art and music while the Downtown Association begins their Holi- day Open House. The Chamber New Member Wine Tour is set to take off the morning of Nov. 13 for an enjoyable day touring the Manton wineries. Honestly, there are too many great events to list them all! For more informa- tion on these and other events please visit our web site www.redbluffchamber.com and click on our "Events" tab. While you are on our new site you will see other news to interest you as well as a listing of the newest members to the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy yourself and have an amazing week. Red Bluff Daily News