FLY GAS

Gasballooning over Germany! Credits: Dirk Herrmann

Happening today!

We worked with the balloon community to allow them to safely fly in the New Mexico airspace without adding new equipment. Find out what procedures you need to follow during our live event on March 25 at 1 PM MT. https://bit.ly/3IzOCnN

Good news!

Good news! The NFPA-2 committee convened on March 3rd through an on-line meeting and voted to accept the proposal originally submitted by Noah Forden to change the language in the Hydrogen code book to allow the filling of manned (piloted) gas balloons. Bert Padelt shared a presentation during the meeting outlining the safety of his balloons and how they are filled. The hydrogen ballooning sub-committee, selected by the Gas Balloon Division’s Chair Barbara Frick, consisted of Noah, Bert, Andy Baird, Al Nels and Sam Parks.

The Gordon Bennett requires many skills... practice makes perfect!

Nyon - Training Flight for Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett

Please consider helping.

https://bfa.net/ukrainian-pilot-support

Our fellow pilots from Ukraine are facing life threatening conditions and have been unable to pay their entry fee for the 2022 Worlds in Slovenia. Right now their concern is staying alive. Join other US balloonists by giving them a token of our freedom with a donation to pay their entry and assist with their participation in the Worlds, about $2000 USD. Any excess funds being sent to the Ukraine Red Cross. Your donation to the BFA will be transferred in full to the cause.

Click her to donate now: https://bfa.net/ukrainian-pilot-support

If you are looking for a way to help please see the post below or connect directly with Bennie Eimers.

Bennie Eimers is organizing places to stay for Ukrainian balloonists and their families and is collecting money to get to the balloonists. Donations can be made here:

Paypal: [email protected]
German Ballooning Academy e.V.

Bankverbindung: DE97 8306 5408 0004 2933 63

If you will use the IBAN from the us, the address is

Ellinghorster Str. 135
45964 Gladbeck

BIC: GENODEF1SLR

It will be used for transport of goods, aid material, refugees etc

Happy New Year

May 2022 see you in the air more, with your family and friends more, and with far more fun and happiness than any year previously!

Merry Christmas!

Twas The Night Before Christmas
By Ryan Coy

Twas the Night Before Christmas in the balloon pilot's home, the weather reports he could not leave alone.
The balloon was packed away in the trailer with care, with with hopes of flying in the still morning air.
The chase crew was nestled all snug in their beds, while dreams of easy pack-ups danced in their heads.
The champagne's on ice, the weather on TV, will there be a morning flight, we'll just have to see.
When out on the launch field there arose such a sound, I ran outside and began to look around.
To the left and the right was nothing to see, nothing moving on the ground, could I be crazy?
When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a hot air balloon propelled by reindeer!
And a little old pilot, so lively and and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
At the speed of the wind he floated my way, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
On Wicker and Nylon, on Burner and Propane. On Chase Truck and Trailer, on Crackers and Champagne.
From the top of clouds to the tops of the trees. We'll be landing now, so please bend your knees.
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof, a propane powered burner, just a quick poof.
I went back inside and and looked all around, down the chimney the pilot came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his toes, and the distinct smell of propane you you could sense on his clothes.
An envelope bag full of toys by his side, and a stack of certificates for private balloon rides.
He spoke not word, turned his radio down low. The chase elves kept calling, which road should we go?
With the presents all placed at this particular stop, up the chimney he went, this was but a hop.
He climbed in his basket, gave the burners a blast, and gently ascended, not overly fast.
Then I heard him call out as he floated into the night, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a safe flight!

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Balloon Federation of America!

Congratulations Nicole Moon!

Congratulations to our newest GAS pilot, Nicole Moon of Vermont!

Do you have good balloon news? Share it with [email protected] and see it featured on one of our pages!

Virginia look up, there's a gas balloon in the air!

Photos from Gas Balloon Team Padelt-Forden's post

Photos from Gas Balloon Team Padelt-Forden's post

Eyes to the sky Ohio and Pennsylvania, there will be a gas balloon up there soon!

Happy flying to Bert and Noah!

Photos from Team Poland One Gordon Bennett's post

Love the excitement and adventure of these two teams! Congratulations

Photos from alifeofballooning.com's post

Thanks for taking us on your adventure!

Photos from Ballonsportgruppe Stuttgart e.V.'s post

Our European friends just flew from Stuttgart Germany to Sweden! Congratulations and thanks for sharing pictures.

Noah Forden is featured in today's episode of Air Sports Promotion, tune in at 3 pm EDT!

Anothee Air Sports Promotion show is coming today! :)

BRENDA COWLISHAW / AMERICA`S CHALLENGE UPDATE - AIR SPORTS INTERVIEWS

Brenda Cowlishaw was recently interviewed by Regan Tetlow on Air Sports Productions about her America's Challenge flight. We hope you enjoy watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4la5gM9uao&t=1s

BRENDA COWLISHAW / AMERICA`S CHALLENGE UPDATE - AIR SPORTS INTERVIEWS ===JOIN & BUILD our own and independent community:AIR SPORTS FANhttps://airsportsfan.com===MEET & GREET our host REGAN TETLOW:https://regantetlow.com​​​https...

Tune in TODAY at 3 pm EDT, 1 pm MDT to hear Cheri Edwards White and Mark Sullivan talk about gas ballooning! Cheri and Mark are the only US team to participate in both the Gordon Bennett and the America's Challenge gas races this year.

Our special guests this week! :) Stay tuned today at 19:00 UTC!

It's official, the 2021 America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race winners are Noah Forden and Bert Padelt! They traveled 356 miles in 36 hours and managed a lovely stand up landing on an airport! Congratulations to Team Forden-Padelt!

From Noah and Bert's flight

The last team pf Barbara Fricke and Peter Cuneo landed.

Team Four of Noah Forden and Bert Padelt has landed.

Cheri and Mark's landing path.

Team Three of Brenda Cowlishaw and Brian Duncan has landed.

From Cheri: Moon and Mark sleeping. It is so cold up here. My water froze. Moving very slowly.