Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/33219
David Dunrud Jr. I have been around ballooning my whole life, I took it to the next level when I turned 14, when I received my student certificate and was off. When I turned 20, I received my private pilot certificate and a little less than a year later my commer- cial. I'm now 25, I own two hot air balloons and have flown in seven of the 50 states and counting. Everyday is a exciting new adventure, "new places, new faces." It never gets old, and besides, you cannot beat an office with a view. I have never really liked flying solo, finding it too boring. I've always enjoyed sharing an experience that is unforgettable. Ballooning has been a family tradition, and I feel honored to continue that tradition. Looking forward to clear, calm skies. Drew Brown I was introduced to ballooning by my father in 1997 when he invited me to crew for one of the Remax bal- loons during an event in Portland. A few years later I had an oppor- tunity to sponsor a balloon in the Rogue Valley Balloon Rally, during which I was paired up with MaryAnn Ledoux. Upon my first flight with her, she allowed me to assume control of the burner, and I was hooked. I began my flight training with any pilot who was willing to teach. Most of these people have become very good Continued on page 14 Bill Woodhead As an Air- plane Pilot for 40 years and Balloon Pilot for 30-plus, I have flown bal- loons in a majority of the United States, Canada, Africa and Israel. This year's event schedule includes events in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexi- co, California, Nevada and Oregon. I own and operate the Best West- ern Inn at the Rogue and HIS SKY Balloons, both in Grants Pass, Ore. My most memorable local flight was from Grants Pass, Ore. to Beaver Marsh, Ore., with the flight path directly across Crater Lake. The highest I have flown in a hot air balloon was 22,000 feet, the fastest speed 58 mph, the longest trip was 122 miles and one of the most interesting local flights took me from Grants Pass over Crater Lake and landing near highway 97. Katie Griggs I have been flying for 25 years and fly a special shape balloon, the Northern Nevada Remax Balloon, and an X series racer. I have flown in many states across the US and in Canada and France. I have run a hot air repair station, put on numerous safety seminars, and am Balloonmeister for the Great Reno Balloon Race. Gay James’ Ballooning History the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF). After going on a tethered balloon ride I signed up to work crew at the 1979 AIBF in hopes of getting a real balloon ride. I met a pilot from Napa who needed crew and a truck -- and I had a truck. That pilot took me on every flight during the Fiesta and after 4 days let me land the balloon. I was hooked. I didn’t just want to ride any more. I want- ed to be a pilot. I started with my Student Pilot Cer- tificate in 1979. Due to not having a bal- loon of my own, I received my private lighter-than-air pilot certificate in Albu- querque in 1981 and then my commer- cial certificate in 1982. I have flown in Continued on page 14 I crewed for the first time in 1978 at Dana Thornton Jennifer and Mike Parks Byron Stevenson I enjoy flying most for the joy of flying in the open air. I have flown in Oregon, Washing- ton, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, New Mexi- co and, of course, Califorina. I'm in the air every weekend that's flyable. I crewed for many years and never got to fly, so I bought my own balloon. We fly all year as the weather lets us. Red Bluff Daily News Jennifer I are both hot air balloon pilots and first met at a balloon rally in the ‘80s. We have flown balloons of all types in the East, South, Mid- West and now call California home. We got married in out hot air bal- loon in Florida in 1990. Besides flying balloons, I have acted as event organizer, scoring official and observer for BFA national and international events and at both hot air and gas balloon events. Continued on page 14 Jim Abell I'm a commercial balloonist with 500 hours and I fly for Up & Away Balloons out of Sonoma County. Our balloon is named Kiphaven, after our 20-year-old son, Kip. A pilot since 1980, I made my first hot air balloon ride as a passenger in 1978 and first hands on burner when was 18. My older brother, Ron, and I start- ed the Great Reno Balloon Race Dawn patrol in 1984 and Dana has been a part of the early morning bal- loon team since then. GRBR is just one of the events I attens yearly but is among one of my favorites. Based out of San Jose, my wife, Denise, and I travel primarily along the West Coast to ballooning events through out the year. “ Free Spirit” is the name of our balloon and it can be picked out of the balloon crowd with their notice- able yellow pennants and smiley face design on the very top. Jim Gibson and hold an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate. I have accumulated more than 230 hours of flight time in hot air balloons. I retired my first bal- loon — patriotically called Freedom — and am now piloting Freedom II, a 1986 Aerostar Interna- tional Rally II, 77,500-cubic-foot aerostat. It is 80 feet tall and has an old fashion, retro beach ball design, with eight vertical colors offset by white stripes. I have been a sport balloonist for 25 years I got involved in his unusual hobby by inadver- tently reading a paperback book, titled "Balloon- ing," by the British pilot Dick Wirth. After studying Wirth's book, my girlfriend at the time surprised me with my first balloon pilot’s lesson as a birthday present. This was before I had even ever seen a real hot air balloon, let alone been on a balloon ride. Thursday, June 2, 2011 Since my first flight I have been crazy about Continued on page 14 Page 9