Ballooning With Paul

Directions to Paul's house

To Paul's house from 65/69 south:
1. Go south into Indianola.
2. Drive past Wal-Mart, which is on your left
3. Drive another couple hundred feet:
 a. Past Country Kitchen
 b. Past The Apple Tree Inn
c. Past Indy 66 gas
4. Right after Indy 66 is Kentucky Avenue. Take a right (west) on Kentucky.
5. Go 3 blocks and turn right on Buxton St. This is the first major street you can turn right on.
6. Go 1/2 block to 1206 N Buxton. A pseudo-Victorian two story.

Paul Vincent Craven
1206 N Buxton
Indianola, IA 50125

mobile: 515-201-7943
home: 515-962-1135
work: 515-213-7101

Directions to the ballon field

To the balloon field from 65/69 south:
1. Go south into Indianola.
2. Keep going about 2 miles. You will pass Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee, Pizza Hut, and finally Godfather's.
3. Just after Godfather's is the intersection with Highway 92. Turn left. 4. Continue about 3 miles. You will pass the Indianola High School. You will pass Pickard Park on the right. 5. About 1/4 mile after Pickard Park is the balloon field on the left. You will curve a little to the left. As the road starts to straighten back out to the right, this is where you want to turn off.

Crew check-list

Recommended:

• Long pants (may have to walk through tall grass)
• Avoid loose clothing (To avoid getting caught in the fan)
• Cotton clothing is recommended over synthetics. Synthetics burn and melt
• Long hair put in a pony tail (Keep it from getting caught)
• Comfortable shoes, with ankle support
• Sunglasses
• Camera

What the pilot provides:

• Refreshments
• Gloves
• Maps
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray (good idea to put this on before we start, the bugs can be thick and you'll get too busy to put it on later)

Common Questions:

Do I get to ride in the balloon?

Typically I carry one other person in the balloon. Normally I choose whomever has crewed for me the most times, and hasn't yet had a ride. Sometimes due to weather or other reasons, I will have to fly 'solo', with no other people in the balloon. I love to give rides, and prefer not to fly solo.

When someone provides all the crew I need for a flight, I usually allow them to pick who rides.

Some people like to crew, and not ride in the balloon. That's fine. The crew rides along in the van while the balloon is in the air.

Isn't it boring if you don't fly in the balloon?

Ballooning if fun even if you don't fly! You get out in the country. You get to work with new people and do something exciting. You never know exactly where you are going. And balloons in the country are just fun to watch. I crewed since I was a little kid, and always thought it was fun. Every flight is an adventure.

What is involved in balloon crewing?

In addition to a pilot, most balloons need a crew of three or four people to help inflate the balloon. On inflation I have two people hold open the mouth of the balloon while a large fan blows in a bunch of cold air. Another person holds a 'crown rope' at the top of the balloon. That rope prevents the balloon from coming up too fast when heat gets applied to it.

Once the balloon is in the air, the chase crew follows it until it lands. Once it lands, the crew helps back the balloon away. Usually this isn't much work. But occasionally we might have to carry the balloon and basket out of the field rather than driving up to it. This can be a lot of work, but it doesn't happen regularly. Of course, these are the stories you'll hear over and over again. Landing in a mowed field doesn't make for a good story.

When do you fly? How long does it last?

I can fly two hours before sunset, and two hours after sunrise. The winds are calmest during these times. Flights can last anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours.

The balloon also needs to be refueled after the flight. Usually we go ahead and do that right after the flight while everything is still on the trailer.

If you are crewing, expect to spend 2.5 hours before sunset and 0.5 hours after sunset. That will cover most of the flights. For morning flights, they usually go from 0.5 hours before sunrise to 2.5 hours after.

Where do you take off? Where do you land?

Typically we take off from a farm or acreage and near the balloon field. We can land in public parks, along side roads without power lines, edges of fields, etc. We have to be careful not to damage any farmer crops and get permission before driving on their land.

Is it dangerous?

This is the doom-and-gloom section of the FAQ. Because unfortunately, there are accidents with balloons. Ballooning is riskier than driving a car. In the last five and a half years (from 1/1/2000 to 6/18/2005) the NTSB lists 8 fatalities over 7 accidents for the entire United States. The largest risks are usually the pilot hitting power lines or a radio tower that he/she does not see.

Safety is number one priority for me. I'm not commercial, I have no money riding on if I fly or not. I stay on the ground when other pilots fly. I spend time each year reviewing safety at safety seminars. I read all the balloon accident reports to learn from other people's mistakes. Like boating or riding ATVs, there is risk in ballooning that must be managed. Therefore it is part of your duty as crew to ask questions and keep an eye out for anything that is out of place.

Do you wear a parachute?

No, you don't need a parachute. The balloon's maximum descent rate isn't much faster than a parachute. Basically, the balloon is a big parachute. Balloons can also take an incredible amount of damage and keep flying.

You made your own balloon?

Yes, this balloon was made by me. You can see the whole process here. As such, I must warn you the balloon "does not meet FAA standards".

That said, the balloon basket, burner and fuels systems come from a certified aircraft. The fabric is the same fabric used by a certified manufacturer. The balloon dimensions are the same as most balloons. The only thing that is really different is that the load structure of the balloon is made using components that are actually rated higher than many commercially rated balloons.

And I really know everything about my balloon very well!

What about kids having rides?

Kids need to be old enough to see over the side of the basket, and not be scared of the balloon burner (which is loud). My decision will depend on the kid, as they are all different.

Do you hire out for rides?

No. I'm strictly non-commercial by choice.

How do you steer?

Wind typically travels in different directions at different altitudes. This effect is most noticeable in the mornings. By changing our altitude, we can catch different winds. Rarely do we have the ability to steer enough to land at the same field we took off from though. Typically we can steer +- 20 degrees or so, but it all depends on the weather.

How does the chase crew talk with the balloon?

I have two-way radios we use. Cell phones are often unreliable, but they are can be used as a backup. Remember that I can't hear the radio when I hit the burner on the balloon.

Safety Rules:

• If you have a question, or something seems out of place, let me know. I rely on the crew to help me spot anything that isn't right.
• Feel free to tell me about any power lines or radio towers that you think might be in my flight path.
• Never wrap a rope hands or around your waist. If the balloon suddenly takes off, you might go with it.
• Don't lean over the basket edge. Again, if the balloon suddenly takes off, you will go too.
• Keep your feet on the ground at all times!
• If the balloon comes in contact with power lines, don't touch it. No exceptions.
• I can land the balloon on my own. You don't need to speed to the landing site. Keep me in sight and drive safe.
• Always get a landowner's permission before driving on their property. Keep it fun for them too.
• Be really nice to any landowner.
• If you approach a balloon coming in to land, stay behind it. They have a lot more mass than you would think, so you don't want to be in front of it.

If you ride in the balloon:

• When landing, slightly bend your knees and rest on the balls of your feet. Face sideways or toward the back of the basket. Don't face forward. Hang on to the tank straps, the uprights, or sides of the balloon. Don't hang on the fuel lines.
• Feel free to point out any power lines or radio towers.
• Do not get out until I tell you. Even after the balloon is lying on the ground, don't get out without asking. If the balloon lands and you crawl out of the basket, I've lost your weight for ballast. The balloon can go back into the air fast.
• I don't talk a lot when I fly. Flying takes a lot of concentration. I'm happy to talk after though. But always ask any safety-related question you have immediately.

-- PaulVincentCraven - 08 Mar 2006