4CU 004 : Four Corners Unit Balloon Rally (2007)

[Ken J]

It warms up really fast.....plus I think the burner will warm you up...

Ken J.

[pmclemore]

Originally Posted by Airstream25

Carol and I have been crewing for a local pilot for the past 15 years or so. He has one of the smaller balloons, "Double Flash" that can only carry 2 adults beside the pilot. He "pays" his crew with an occasional flight.
If you are interested, you are welcome to crew with us or you can look at the crew web site and sign up with anyone else;
Chase Crew

This sounds like the real deal to me - a ride with someone who knows someone. Does he have any rides open during our rally period? How do we enlist?

Thanks - Pat.

[Airstream25]

Double Flash is not a commercial balloon and rides are not sold. The pilot pays his crew with occasional rides.

If you want to crew, you need to show up at the launch site at 6:30AM with gloves. The entire launch field is marked off in a grid of rows & columns The individual launch sites will be assigned to the pilots in Sept.

Crewing consists of;
Buying the pilot a breakfast burrito.
Helping unload the balloon and equipment from the truck.
Helping to spead tarps on the ground and layout the balloon.
Crowd control to keep people from walking across the envelope.
Holding the mouth of the balloon open for inflation (need earplugs & gloves).
Putting weight on the balloon basket while waiting for command to launch.
Gathering up all the equipment & putting it back in the truck.
Chasing the pilot. Need to memorize what the balloon looks like and keep an eye on it amoung 799 other balloons.
Putting weight on the balloon basket while waiting for the pilot to change out his passengers or deflate the balloon.
Packing the balloon into the giant stuff sack & loading on the truck.
If you are lucky enough to get a ride, you need to operate the radio and talk to the ground crew.


Pilot rules are;
Do not step on the balloon envelope
No smoking
Do not step on the balloon envelope
Do not touch the envelope without gloves
Do not step on the balloon envelope

Originally Posted by pmclemore

This sounds like the real deal to me - a ride with someone who knows someone. Does he have any rides open during our rally period? How do we enlist?

Thanks - Pat.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Airstream25

Double Flash is not a commercial balloon and rides are not sold. The pilot pays his crew with occasional rides.

If you want to crew, you need to show up at the launch site at 6:30AM with gloves. The entire launch field is marked off in a grid of rows & columns The individual launch sites will be assigned to the pilots in Sept.

Crewing consists of;
Buying the pilot a breakfast burrito.
Helping unload the balloon and equipment from the truck.
Helping to spead tarps on the ground and layout the balloon.
Crowd control to keep people from walking across the envelope.
Holding the mouth of the balloon open for inflation (need earplugs & gloves).
Putting weight on the balloon basket while waiting for command to launch.
Gathering up all the equipment & putting it back in the truck.
Chasing the pilot. Need to memorize what the balloon looks like and keep an eye on it amoung 799 other balloons.
Putting weight on the balloon basket while waiting for the pilot to change out his passengers or deflate the balloon.
Packing the balloon into the giant stuff sack & loading on the truck.
If you are lucky enough to get a ride, you need to operate the radio and talk to the ground crew.


Pilot rules are;
Do not step on the balloon envelope
No smoking
Do not step on the balloon envelope
Do not touch the envelope without gloves
Do not step on the balloon envelope

So..............I guess that you shouldn't step on the envelope

Actually, I did some crewing for the Diner's Club balloon in Chicago in the early 70's. It was a blast, except when we had to chase her all iver suburban and rural Chicago.

[Ken J]

Hmmm trying to get this right - are you allowed to step on the envelope? This sounds soooo confusing....

[Poprivet]

I was taught to stay inside the envelope

[ScrapIrony-2]

Shouldn't you think outside the envelope...?

[soldiermedic]

Greetings all,

Your rally looks like it is going to be great fun, and we wish we could be there.

I wanted to cordially invite anyone who will be heading back east after the rally to stop into the Branson Forums Rally the 14-16 (If it isn't too far out of your way). Many of us will be staying past the 14th, so please feel free to drop on in for some fun and friendly atmosphere.

For information click the links in my sig.

Steve

[Ken J]

Steve

Thank you soooo much for the invite - I know of at least one of the balloon rally attendees who is headed your way after the rally.....sounds like another great time!

Ken J.

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Greetings all,

Your rally looks like it is going to be great fun, and we wish we could be there.

I wanted to cordially invite anyone who will be heading back east after the rally to stop into the Branson Forums Rally the 14-16 (If it isn't too far out of your way). Many of us will be staying past the 14th, so please feel free to drop on in for some fun and friendly atmosphere.

For information click the links in my sig.

Steve

Thank you very much for the invite. We will be headed back the other direction because of that nasty four letter word (work).

Have a great rally and post lots of pictures!

[pmclemore]

If only Branson had casinos and cowboy bars.

[Ken J]

It has casinos and cowboy bars - - - doesn't it?

[soldiermedic]

Originally Posted by Ken J

It has casinos and cowboy bars - - - doesn't it?

Casino

Cowboy Bar

See...everything you asked for.

Steve

[pmclemore]

Well by golly! I though Branson was more of a, well, wholesome kind of a place than I am usually drawn to...

You learn something every day from this Forum!

[Fyrzowt]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Well by golly! I though Branson was more of a, well, wholesome kind of a place than I am usually drawn to...

You learn something every day from this Forum!

Wholesome doesn't draw crowds. Think Vegas...

[soldiermedic]

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

Wholesome doesn't draw crowds. Think Vegas...

Yeah...In Branson you can't see the "Whole" picture, you have to go to Vegas for those shows.

Steve

[Poprivet]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Greetings all,

Your rally looks like it is going to be great fun, and we wish we could be there.

I wanted to cordially invite anyone who will be heading back east after the rally to stop into the Branson Forums Rally the 14-16 (If it isn't too far out of your way). Many of us will be staying past the 14th, so please feel free to drop on in for some fun and friendly atmosphere.

For information click the links in my sig.

Steve

The welcoming sprite and hospitality is part of what makes forum rallys so special. I wish your rally was a month later and I would enjoy attending. After the balloon fiesta I intend to bum around the southwest for a month or so. You might find me in the hot spring at Roper State Park near Safford Az. or at the BLM campground on the banks of the Gila River in the same area.
Anyway you Airstream it, life is good

[pmclemore]

I'll have to put Branson into the pot and cook it awhile. Our plans had been to leave the Balloon Rally and work south to Big Bend and then east to home.

Sounds like a good time, though.

Pat

[azflycaster]

Ken -
Did you get my check (it's in the mail) ?
Did you cash it ?
Did it clear ?

Have you found out which VIP area we will be in?

[Ken J]

Richard

No I have not received your check yet, course that would mean I need to check the P.O. box which I have not done because I've been out of town all week - I'll check in the next couple of days...

Ken J