I Learned About Competitive Flying That Day

As a student pilot and a newbee to competitive flying I approach the flying event with great anticipation.

After a perfect 30-minute truck to launch sequence my pilot and her navigator progress towards the target. We soon hear over the radio "We see the target". We gaze towards the sky and watch, but wait a balloon is below and in her path. Knowing the lower balloon has the right and is maintaining altitude and almost directly over the target preparing to score my pilot initiates the attack. The mighty red and white w/hearts balloon sweeps down and bumps the other balloon off the target. Being knocked off the target the trusty twosome finish off their opponent by acting like two fanatical women (in the huge red and white with hearts balloon) start yelling at him like the world was about to come to an end or the balloon was on fire or some other unintelligible thing was about to happen. The bumped balloon’s startled passenger not knowing what to expect bails out of the basket. The balloon then loses buoyancy and heads for the sky. I say to myself, "I’ve got it the Bump and Go technique", BG for short.

Mean time my pilot misses the target and being very proud of her piloting skills begins the process of the balloon cloaking. She makes a perfect landing in the middle of a large field a half-mile from the chase truck but her trusty crew is there. "Weight on" she says, and let’s change passengers. My pilot knowing the winds are calming requests a tank change. Ever run with a 10-gallon 65-pound tank for half a mile? As the ground was somewhat uneven I was afraid I might trip. Is it better to fall on the tank or have the tank fall on you? Not sure but either way something would be aligned in a different way. Ok all is ready and away she goes. Now for the rest of the story!

My pilot now shows me how cloak a large balloon and assist the crew in forgetting about the BG incident. She hovers low over houses and waits for everyone else to land. . She gives clear instructions to her crew like "landing over there". But where is over there, you know over the house beyond the trees, before the power line which is still a mile away. Her crew continues relentlessly in her pursuit. In the mean while she considers a landing on the 6^th green. You need to consider that this perspective of this approach as initiated from the street. As I am not a fairway player so I know the situation well. She does a perfectly executed pitching wedge approach to the 6^th green (Clear the house and the trees and gently drop to the green). An easy one putt to the cup. Meanwhile she burns off a couple of tail telling emblems from her balloon so know one will know its her balloon on the golf course. Her crew arrives on the run amidst the friendly fire of golf balls. Ever tried doing a deflation while being shot at with golf balls. Kind of keeps your attention. Well the crew carries the balloon and equipment up the hill and off the golf course. We casually tour the golf shop to give our regards and assure that they are pleased with our fine pitching wedge shot to the green. My pilot is sure all including her crew have now forgotten the BG incident.

What a learning experience: Bump and Go, balloon cloaking, and golfing from a balloon.

Ok time to proceed back to the launch site. Being late to return there is no food, no ice cream just a cool drink for her trusty crew. Oh, Oh, Mr. Rally Leader questions my pilot about the "BG incident". Oh, she says, "how could they tell it was me. Ask my crew if they can remember. How many hearts where on the balloon? Look my balloon only has a few hearts at the bottom of the balloon"

Well, one of those important inspector guys calls her over in the afternoon to see if he can mend a heart or two.

And you know the rest of the story.

Some facts have been altered to protect the innocent and make the story entertaining. Any reference to anyone or situation is purely speculation on the reader’s part.

Actually my pilot did a fantastic job flying that day. I was proud to be on her crew.

Signed: T3