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Seconds after lift off the
balloon begins to move very slowly upward and gently toward the southwest.
Balloons 'work' because of the principle of density differential
between the less dense hot air inside the envelope and the cooler air
outside the envelope.
The less dense hot air rises and lifts the basket and the riders.
Dave adds hot air as needed to compensate for air in the envelope
which has cooled.
Flying a balloon is a delicate balancing act between air too hot which
will cause the balloon to ascend or air too cool which will cause the
balloon to descend. |
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I took this picture of the Greenhead about two minutes after liftoff as
it sailed across the hangers and fuel truck at Buck's Airport.
The white building is the Woodruff Church.
Even at this early point in the flight, Dave was sure he was headed
for downtown Bridgeton. |
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This unusual picture was
taken from somewhere along Irving Avenue as I followed balloon from
Burlington Road to South on Pearl Street. |
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The balloon appears trapped
in wires along Pearl Street.
The evening was beautiful and hundreds of people gawked up at the huge
balloon passing over downtown. This picture was taken from the
corner of Irving and Pearl facing south. |
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Cumberland County: "Where the sky is the limit!"
After making a turn southbound onto Fayette Street from
49 and looking back toward the balloon, I slammed on the pickup's
brakes, grabbed my camera and raced to the corner of 49 and Fayette.
I yelled to a confused Jamie as I raced by her,
"I can get a picture of the Court House clock tower and the balloon!"
|
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After passing over the
Court House the balloon drifted parallel to Fayette Street and toward the
Dutch Neck section. Dave radioed to me that landing at LiCalzi's
Airport assured so the chase crew moved to the airport.
I took this picture of the Greenhead and a second balloon piloted by
John Blair which took off ten from Buck's minutes after the Greenhead. |
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This picture shows the last
burn Dave made just seconds before touching down at LiCalzi's.
The orange flame is the from the propane burner. In each corner of the
basket there are propane tanks.
The balloonists are about 10 feet off the ground in the picture but
the distant trees make them seem much higher. |
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The ground crew is
'walking' the balloon and basket toward an area where the envelope can
collapse on grass rather than cars or airplanes. George, in the red
shirt, is Linda's father. The other man is Joe, her brother.
It is very unusual to take off from an airport in a balloon and to
land at an airport although in the last two flights that I crewed for Dave
did just that.
Usually, the wind direction and speed forces the pilot to find a large
field or parking lot for a landing.
A few years ago, my daughter Rebecca and I flew with Dave and we
landed behind the Acme on Main Road in Vineland. |
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The top has been pulled
open, the Velcro separated, and the hot begins to rush out. Joe
holds the top to maximize the opening and speed the deflation process.
|
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Dave lives in Cedarville.
His balloon is called the "Greenhead." That makes
sense. |
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Jamie, Ron's daughter,
hands retainer straps to Linda.
Linda is wrapping the envelope with a 2 foot long Nylon retainer which
has Velcro hooks and pile. The retainer holds the huge envelope to make
getting it into the bag easier. |
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Three generations of two
families, the Tisa and Morrison families, help put the balloon away.
What was once a light-bulb shaped balloon is now a snake-like mass
which will be stuffed into the bag.
Because air doesn't pass
through the wall of the envelope all the air is squeezed out through
the opening at the top. |
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Much to the surprise of
someone watching for the first time, the balloon really does fit inside that
little bag.
The envelope weighs 110 pounds in the bag.
On a cold and dry day, when lift is the best, the balloon could easily
lift the weight of three adults. |
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The customary and somewhat
romantic way to end a
balloon flight is with a champagne toast.
During the early years of balloon flight in France where ballooning
began, French balloonists carried champagne to share with the farmers in whose
fields they would land.
The champagne was used as proof that the balloonists were French and
not aliens from space. |
© 2006 George Morrison |
Cousins Linda and Ron and
their family toast after the flight. Dave, Jamie, Carmella,
Linda, Ron, Joe, Bryan, Craig...and me.
Carmella is the sister of Pete Tisa, not shown, who is Ron's father.
Pete started the family tradition of ballooning many years ago.
And a great time was
had by all!
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Bernie Sayers' Personal
Page |
All photos and copy
© 2006 Bernard Sayers except
as noted |
