The Early Years of Sport Ballooning

Quick links:

Links
Contact
Requests
About this site
About the author
A bit about copyright
Frequently-asked questions
My Mom's 1973 Fiesta slides
Dick Pollard
Coming Soon

Manufacturer pages:

Adams
Avian
Barnes
Cameron
Piccard
Raven
Semco
Stokes
Thunder
Other

Affiliated Site:

Welcome to the beginnings of modern sport ballooning!

This site is an attempt to create a resource for those fascinated by the beginnings of modern sport ballooning - from the early '60s to maybe the late '70s, when an AX-7 was a big balloon, and 5 million BTUs was a powerful burner. This site will probably most interest those who were there, or who wish they had been, but I try to make the non-enthusiast's trip worthwhile, too.

The most important thing to know about "The Early Years of Sport Ballooning" is that much of the content here is provided through the generous assistance of visitors in contributing images and information. The fact that much of this site's content is submitted by visitors means that it's your site. I'm eager to know how it can be improved, and what people really want to see. I read and respond to each and every e-mail - if you've got opinions on what you do, or would like to, see here, why not let me know? A great many visitors have written me in the time this site's been here to say that they're delighted with the memories I've been able to share. Thank you on behalf of myself - and the thanks of many others, I pass along to you.

Choose a manufacturer to learn (and see) more

Coming Soon To my chagrin, I have become too busy to maintain this site as regularly as I would like to, but I have a lot of material that I intend to put online. So I have decided at least to show the images here, before I get a chance to crop them, give them proper attribution and work them into their respective pages.
Use the scroll bar under the thumbnails to navigate, clicking on thumbnails to display photos below. For a full-screen version of this gallery, click here. To download photos, click the "Download" button under the main image, or right- click the main image and select "Download Image" (popups must be enabled!)

A word about this site: I didn't create this site because I'm some kind of expert - I'm not. I created this site because (to my knowledge) no one else had. I am actively seeking correction of my information, and attribution for the images here. I used to request here that you send me pictures of old balloons (or, ideally, clear shots showing the parts of old balloons), but I am forced to modify that request a little, because I am so much busier than I was when I started the site. People have sent me wonderful photos, facts, corrections, etc. that have gone months or even years without getting on the site, and I feel a bit guilty about it. I'm still happy to receive content, but only if you understand it might not be shared in a timely fashion. I still have a "Requests" page to give an idea what I'm especially looking for, but it's pretty outdated, and I may take it down entirely. I cannot (generally) pay for content, but I do promise to return photos and other printed materials, at my own expense, unless you specify that you don't need them back (in which case, THANK YOU!!). Anything I do receive that you want returned, I will scan promptly and return to you, though I might not get it on the site any time soon. I am displaying some photos from old books and magazines. Because of their age (and because of the legal right of "fair use"), I make them available, and will gladly remove whatever I'm asked to remove. If you see a picture to which you own the rights, and you don't want it here (or want attribution posted), please let me know! I'd like to have as many photos as possible duly credited, and used with permission.

The author, age 5, next to a Semco basket
during the 1973 World Championships

As for who I am, I am an early-40s father of two from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have been a balloon nut since the 1973 World Championships, which I had the pleasure of attending at the impressionable age of five. In the year since word of this site began to get out, I've been simply overwhelmed by the kindness, encouragement and generosity displayed by the pilots, crew, builders and enthusiasts who have taken the time to look around here and write me. I am grateful for every e-mail that's been written, every image that's been sent, and every new friend I've made.

Perhaps even more, I'm grateful that I had to change this paragraph. I used to mention that I'd never flown in a balloon, but I can no longer say that. A gentleman by the name of Don Boyer saw this site, contacted me, and asked if I'd like to crew one morning. That morning was June 13, 2004, and not only did I get to crew (I was on throat), Don took me up for my first-ever free flight (save for a late-'70s hop across the Fiesta field in a Piccard called "Tejas"). Don flies an Aerostar RX-8 called "AirRageous," which will, of course, forever occupy a special place in my heart. Thanks, Don, and thanks to the terrific people who crew for AirRageous. I learned a lot, and had a blast!

This site has been immensely rewarding, and even though I don't have a fraction of the time to work on it that I had when I started it, I'm in it for the long haul. I'm doing it for many reasons, but mostly out of gratitude to the ballooning community for many years of beautiful skies.

Links Requests FAQ 1973 Worlds Adams Avian Barnes Cameron Piccard Raven Semco Stokes Thunder Other