Central Tarheel
By Howard Crispin, Jr.
Hot air balloons in modeling? You are quite right. The last time we checked, there were no categories listed under Free Flight, Control Line, or Radio Control for hot air balloons. Why, then, is this article in a modeling magazine? Public relations is the answer.
For four days in May this year (the 11th through 13th), a major happening occurred at the Burlington Municipal Airport, Burlington, NC, in the form of the Central Tarheel Balloon Race. We tell you about this because of the participation of the Burlington Alamance Radio Kontrol Society (BARKS). The primary sponsor was the Alamance Chamber of Commerce, ably represented by Arnold Arrowood. The racing was under the auspices of the National Balloon Racing Association, represented at Burlington by William Meadows, president, and James Meadows, vice-president.
A wide cross section of people within the average club provides the capability to accomplish many of the tasks necessary for any major event, though clubs seldom are in a position to actually do this sort of thing. At Burlington it was a different story. Working closely with the sponsors, the club assisted in getting the equipment for the announcer's stand, sound equipment, and many other items that were needed.
Model flying and hot air balloon racing may not sound like go-togethers, but they were in this instance—and it provided an opportunity for the general public to see modeling in a different light from the norm.
The BARKS had been approached early in the planning stages of the event, and the extent of the club's participation continually grew. The club did far more than put on a few flights to thrill the crowd. Specifically, the club:
- Put on aerial displays twice a day with a variety of aircraft, ranging from Fun-Fly types and helicopters to Formula I racers.
- Presented a large static display and a tent with club and AMA materials.
- Operated a concession stand, with profits to be used for improvements to a newly acquired flying site.
- Provided buddy-box flying opportunities during each flying session, allowing about 150 people to fly an RC airplane for the first time.
The BARKS and the AMA also received good publicity from an additional source: the club was given sponsorship of one of the balloons in return for all of the work its members did. As it turned out, this balloon was the Tiffany, N3675B, owned and piloted by Tom Anderton of Roanoke, VA. Tiffany is a Firefly balloon, FAA Category AX-7. Some of the specifications are impressive:
- Capacity: 77,500 cubic feet
- Height: 95 feet
- Diameter at equator: 60 feet
- Fuel: Liquid propane
- Burner system rating: 22,000,000 BTU (approximately 8,600 horsepower-hours of flying)
Tom Anderton checked out on the buddy box, instructed by Dave Guerin and Dave Pearce, and he did a very commendable job of flying. We could very well see Tom get in some RC flying in the Roanoke area when he is not off with Tiffany.
The message of this story is that we can, and should, get much more involved with activities of this kind than we have in the past. The capability to do so is present in almost every club. Getting involved helps our public image and gets more people to know about us in ways that counter the notion of "those noisy fliers across the road."
Helping put on the balloon race took a lot of effort, and I apologize for not listing all of the modelers who were involved. Encouraged by BARKS President Tim Dineen and Vice-President Fred Totten, everyone worked like a demon. How could anyone who was there not marvel at Ron Griffin? He talked almost continuously from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for four days as he announced the balloon races, the full-scale aircraft show, and the model activities—plus hawking the sale of programs and finding lost children. Ron said he had no prior experience, but he was excellent. He was not at all hesitant about keeping the crowd well informed about model flying and the AMA. (I should mention that some members of other clubs in the area took part and helped out, such as Dave Pearce of the GRAMS.)
A side benefit to taking part in events such as this is that you sometimes have the opportunity to ride in the aircraft that are performing (or balloons, in this case). At Burlington, I had such an opportunity. The BARKS had arranged for me to take a flight in Tiffany. The flight was on a beautiful Sunday morning with only light breezes. Tom Anderton and I floated peacefully on a most-wonderful flight across the countryside.
It was something I shall never forget. How do you describe such a flight? Quiet: you hear the birds singing, talk to people on the ground, and enjoy a flight that has no sensation of motion except visual. After all, the airspeed is zero. For this experience, I thank the BARKS, Tom Anderton and his lovely bride, Shay, the chase crew, and the cooperation of the weather. I would like to conclude with a little poem that Tom Anderton gave me.
The Balloonist's Prayer
The winds have welcomed you with softness, The sun has blessed you with its warm hands. You have flown so high, And so well, That God has laughed with you, And set you gently back into the arms of Mother Earth.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
