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Larry Ratkoviak Continued from page 8 ous to mention — ultimately led me to my wife of 10 years and fellow balloon pilot, Terri, and an additional member to our family, our 5- year-old son Riley — or, as he likes to be called, “crew chief.” Above and beyond the basic forms of social interac- tion 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 transglobal balloon flight, a teacher of aviation and aero- space studies and promoter and originator of the tissue paper balloon launch involv- ing several thousand ele- mentary and middle school teachers and students during the Great Reno Balloon Race. I have been a guest speaker and, together with my wife, organizers of safety seminars, education- al pro- grams and occasional ballooning events, including the Mon- tague Balloon Fair, Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic and The Great Reno Balloon Race. My recent retirement after a career of nearly 40 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 educa- tional programs, meeting new friends and promoting the “wacky” sport of balloon- ing. Ken Lehr Continued from page 8 Terri Ratkoviak Continued from page 8 In 2002, we moved to Northern California so we could raise our son in the country. I have been with Larry, also a pilot, for 15 years. We enjoy being Balloonmeisters of several events throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as hosting safety seminars for pilots and crew. We purchased another balloon in 2004, Wind Dixie, so we could enjoy flying events together. We have an awesome crew of about 15 that follows us around enjoying this won- derful, wacky sport. Gay James Continued from page 9 New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, Cali- fornia, Oregon, Minnesota and South Dakota and in France. I have more than 2,000 hours flying balloons. I won the first long distance competition in Albu- querque in the 40-gallon category in April 1982. I have won various races over the years and placed third at the Great Reno Balloon Race in 1990. I am also an instructor for balloons, have been a presenter at safety seminars and was the Balloon Meister (organizer and person in charge) of the Valentine's Rally in Albuquerque in 1982. In 1985, I moved to Northern California to fly for one Page 14 Thursday, June 2, 2011 years but now stay closer to home. Our favorite events are now Albany and Medford, Ore., the Great Reno Balloon Race, Montague, and Ribs, Rods & Rides at Rolling Hills Casino. Two of my more memo- rable 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. The biggest reward in ballooning is still the friends we’ve made as we continue to enjoy this sport. Marianne LeDoux Continued from page 8 however, I received my commercial license in 1984. I became the local instructor, guiding stu- dents to their pilot's certificate. In 1986 Bob built our first homebuilt balloon, Castaway, so that he would have a balloon to fly, as I somehow always man- aged to be the pilot-in-com- mand. Thus started our life as a two balloon, two pilot family. Throughout the years we have continued our homebuild- ing and I fly our fifth homebuilt balloon, SewEZ. We travel to rallies around the Pacific North- west and enjoy our beautiful local flying area. For several years I have been Balloonmeis- ter at the Northwest Art and Air Fair in Albany, Ore., set for Aug. 27-29 this year. 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 compe- tition and am the reigning cham- pion, since unfortunately 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. Tony Rivara Continued from page 8 place to fly is practically in my backyard in Truc- kee at Prosser Lake in the gor- geous mountains. Ballooning for me is strictly a hobby, but I do compete in friendly competitions at different ral- lies. I received third place in Port- land. In the Boise River Festival, I won the Spencer Cup for absolute distance in 2000, the Survivor Series in 2002 and in 2003 my team won the Pilot Crew of the Year award. I received third place in the Hare and Hound competition at the Great Reno Balloon Race 2003. I worked on all attempts of Earth Winds to fly around world and have crewed for a launching of a cluster balloon. I just love to fly. Drew Brown Continued from page 9 friends with whom I enjoy spending time at all the diferent events around the Northwest. Thanks to these friends, I acquired my private pilot's license in July 2006. Over the next couple of years, I continued training and passed my commercial check ride during the Albany Art and Air Festi- val in August 2008. My wife, Robin, and I reside in Medford, Ore. with our two children, Alex (13) and Camryn (9) and I am lucky enough to have my father, mother and sister living close by in the Rogue Valley. Jennifer and Mike Parks Continued from page 9 When we are not off flying balloons, Jen and I enjoy sail- ing, Jeeping, water skiing and spending time at home with out two German shepherd dogs. Balloonmeister Russ James County, I grew up out in the rice country, roughly halfway between Willows and Chico. As a child I watched the crop dusters as well as other airborne contraptions fly by, always thinking to myself, someday I'm going to learn to fly. Anative of Glenn Someday came in 1989. I received my Private Pilot certificate in 1990 and went on to become a commercial pilot in 1991. After 20 years and almost 1,200 hours in balloons ranging in size from a 31,000 cubic feet single seat hot rod up to ride balloons that exceed 200,000 cubic feet — I'm still learning and loving every minute of it. Through ballooning, I've had opportunities to meet people — some famous, others just very interesting. It has never become dull or boring. Ballooning is all about having fun! I've flown all over California and in Nevada, Jim Gibson Continued from page 9 both hot air and gas balloons. Some of the things I like about ballooning are its simplicity, elegance and distinguished history. Though hot air balloons are more than 200 years old, the modern sport of hot air bal- looning has only existed a little more Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and both ends of South Dakota. to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, in New Mexico, five times, every other odd year, over a decade. It is the granddaddy of all balloon events, sometimes with more than 1,000 balloons. In 1993, with his broth- er, John Gibson, I won a first place fin- ish on the third race day. than 40 years, with the I was married to my now late wife, Jane, in Freedom. Jane and I traveled of the Napa commercial balloon companies. I was a pilot, and also served as office manager and bookkeeper. I flew for most of the other balloon companies in Napa when they needed an addition- al or relief pilot. I was also assistant secretary for the Pilot Association in Napa, which I am again now. In 1989 I went to France to fly a one person, "chair" balloon during the Bi-Centennial Celebra- tion, along with 300 other pilots. The French gov- ernment flew our balloons to France, gave us chase vehicles to use while we were there, provid- ed lodging at local hotels as well as with French families and provided breakfast of coffee, choco- late and a hard roll each morning at the pilot brief- ing. advent of the propane burn- er in the 1960s. Favorite ballooning events have been Minden, Nev., Windsor, Reno, Nev. and Woodland. The Reno Balloon Race is a prestigious national balloon- ing event with a waiting list of senior balloon pilots throughout the U.S. who would like to participate. This will be my 11th year flying at Reno as a spon- sored pilot. In 2003, I was 40th out of 130 balloons. I am a purely a sport pilot who has never had to make a dime out of bal- looning. I expect to keep ballooning into my golden years and continue my aerostat safari adventures out of Sacramento with my loyal crew chief and fiancée, Kathy Kelly. From 1981, I flew at the AIBF every year until 1995, when I became one of only 7 paid employees for a 1,000 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. I returned to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta as a pilot in 1996, which was the 25th Anniversary of the AIBF with 1,000 pilots com- peting. 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 con- tinued flying in Napa until late 2000 when we moved to Orland. In 2008, I bought my first "real balloon" — one in which I could take passengers. Now I fly an occasional paid ride, but mostly "fun fly," attending balloon rallies around the country when I can. 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