2. Airplanes

1984-1995 Balloonatic Days

A gallery of fun shots from my first days in ballooning in 1984 until I left Dallas in 1995 and the fun stopped. (Well, that kind of fun, anyway.) I still miss the smell of propane and the tang of a chilled glass of champagne in the morning. Ah, those were the days!
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  • MORNING LAUNCH Susie-Q inflated and ready to launch.

    MORNING LAUNCH Susie-Q inflated and ready to launch.

  • READY TO RETRIEVE Everything is tied down and ready to roll.

    READY TO RETRIEVE Everything is tied down and ready to roll.

  • WE'RE ON IT The chase crew is on the job.

    WE'RE ON IT The chase crew is on the job.

  • WISHFUL THINKING I can just hear Dave's thinking now -- "I want me one of them."

    WISHFUL THINKING I can just hear Dave's thinking now -- "I want me one of them."

  • CUTTING CORNERS

    CUTTING CORNERS

  • WAIT AND WATCH We do a lot of this on the chase crew -- stopping to get a bead on what the balloon's doing.

    WAIT AND WATCH We do a lot of this on the chase crew -- stopping to get a bead on what the balloon's doing.

  • ON APPROACH Susie-Q sailing in for a landing.

    ON APPROACH Susie-Q sailing in for a landing.

  • AND WE'RE DOWN Susie-Q down in a field and ready for us to haul her in.

    AND WE'RE DOWN Susie-Q down in a field and ready for us to haul her in.

  • SKIRT INSTRUCTION Nancy MacDonald (the instructor) shows Hal how to properly wrap up the Firefly's skirt prior to storage. It's pretty simple, really.

    SKIRT INSTRUCTION Nancy MacDonald (the instructor) shows Hal how to properly wrap up the Firefly's skirt prior to storage. It's pretty simple, really.

  • HAL'S GOT IT Okay, Hal. Wrap it up nicely, okay?

    HAL'S GOT IT Okay, Hal. Wrap it up nicely, okay?

  • UH, ARE YOU SURE? Hal's all wrapped up in the skirt at this point. What next?

    UH, ARE YOU SURE? Hal's all wrapped up in the skirt at this point. What next?

  • THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY Dave looking on in disbelief as Hal and Nancy get the skirt packed away. What a project!

    THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY Dave looking on in disbelief as Hal and Nancy get the skirt packed away. What a project!

  • INITIATION TIME If I'm not mistaken, this is the first ride after Susan got her pilot's license. Humiliation is in store.

    INITIATION TIME If I'm not mistaken, this is the first ride after Susan got her pilot's license. Humiliation is in store.

  • DAVE AND HAL DO THE HONORS Dave applies the champagne while Hal offers up the beer.

    DAVE AND HAL DO THE HONORS Dave applies the champagne while Hal offers up the beer.

  • MORE IN STORE Hal decides Susan needs a bit more attention.

    MORE IN STORE Hal decides Susan needs a bit more attention.

  • UTTER DISBELIEF Susan is trying to gather her thoughts. Most of them involve some form of retribution.

    UTTER DISBELIEF Susan is trying to gather her thoughts. Most of them involve some form of retribution.

  • TAKE IT ON THE RUN Susan making a break for it.

    TAKE IT ON THE RUN Susan making a break for it.

  • BEER BUTT The only thing worse than champagne curls is a good beer butt. Susan knows.

    BEER BUTT The only thing worse than champagne curls is a good beer butt. Susan knows.

  • TAKING IT IN STRIDE Hal lights up while Susan firms up her plans for revenge. Was it good for you, Hal?

    TAKING IT IN STRIDE Hal lights up while Susan firms up her plans for revenge. Was it good for you, Hal?

  • PASSENGER INITIATION Vic and Cindy White get their initiation pins awarded in true Susan and Hal fashion.

    PASSENGER INITIATION Vic and Cindy White get their initiation pins awarded in true Susan and Hal fashion.

  • PAT'S MORNING DANCE ROUTINE Susan's sister fooling around on Susan's husband Marc's initiation flight morning.

    PAT'S MORNING DANCE ROUTINE Susan's sister fooling around on Susan's husband Marc's initiation flight morning.

  • MARC'S AWAY A terrible picture, but the only one I have of the flight.

    MARC'S AWAY A terrible picture, but the only one I have of the flight.

  • CONFAB Susan and Nancy plot and plan Marc's utter humiliation. Marc knows.

    CONFAB Susan and Nancy plot and plan Marc's utter humiliation. Marc knows.

  • "IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, HONEY." Susan attempting to lure Marc into complacency while Nancy searches for something.

    "IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, HONEY." Susan attempting to lure Marc into complacency while Nancy searches for something.

  • A LITTLE DISTRACTION Susan attempts to take Marc's mind off of things while Nancy does some gardening.

    A LITTLE DISTRACTION Susan attempts to take Marc's mind off of things while Nancy does some gardening.

  • "HERE'S SOME CHAMPAGNE, MARC." The trap is set and Marc is the mouse in question.

    "HERE'S SOME CHAMPAGNE, MARC." The trap is set and Marc is the mouse in question.

  • "YEAH, RIGHT!!!" Marc is not easily fooled. He knows something is up.

    "YEAH, RIGHT!!!" Marc is not easily fooled. He knows something is up.

  • THE DEED IS DONE Susan helps Marc out with his champagne while Nancy applies some extra to the scalp, along with some grass. It's a tradition.

    THE DEED IS DONE Susan helps Marc out with his champagne while Nancy applies some extra to the scalp, along with some grass. It's a tradition.

  • Untitled photo
  • PROPER INITIATION It's aviation tradition for a fledgling pilot to lose his shirt tailfeathers after their first solo. I'm glad to see that isn't limited to just aircraft. Aw, that's okay, Dave -- it was wet anyway.

    PROPER INITIATION It's aviation tradition for a fledgling pilot to lose his shirt tailfeathers after their first solo. I'm glad to see that isn't limited to just aircraft. Aw, that's okay, Dave -- it was wet anyway.

  • CONGRATULATIONS, DAVE! Dave and Pat seal the deal with a handshake.

    CONGRATULATIONS, DAVE! Dave and Pat seal the deal with a handshake.

  • RISING STAR AT SUNRISE Fast forward: Dave has now gotten his pilot's license and is taking William up for his first balloon flight. William was part of our work crew at Super Tex Cameras and would later become part of the Rising Star crew.

    RISING STAR AT SUNRISE Fast forward: Dave has now gotten his pilot's license and is taking William up for his first balloon flight. William was part of our work crew at Super Tex Cameras and would later become part of the Rising Star crew.

  • AND THEY'RE OFF! William and Dave take to the skies at Dalrock Park on Lake Ray Hubbard, just north of Dallas.

    AND THEY'RE OFF! William and Dave take to the skies at Dalrock Park on Lake Ray Hubbard, just north of Dallas.

  • THERE THEY GO A nice burner shot if nothing else.

    THERE THEY GO A nice burner shot if nothing else.

  • SOFT LANDINGS, WILLIAM They're now officially off and running, but it wasn't windy at all that morning. You can always tell a calm day by how many takeoff shots you get -- the higher the wind speed the fewer the shots.

    SOFT LANDINGS, WILLIAM They're now officially off and running, but it wasn't windy at all that morning. You can always tell a calm day by how many takeoff shots you get -- the higher the wind speed the fewer the shots.

  • AND A SOFT LANDING IT WAS Nice of somebody to have all this cushioning grass for a landing site.

    AND A SOFT LANDING IT WAS Nice of somebody to have all this cushioning grass for a landing site.

  • THE FLIGHT OF THE TWO DOUGS This flight started off okay, but soon misadventure was in the air -- and in the water! The other Doug (Doug Two) is Doug Mallon, one of my co-workers at Super Tex.

    THE FLIGHT OF THE TWO DOUGS This flight started off okay, but soon misadventure was in the air -- and in the water! The other Doug (Doug Two) is Doug Mallon, one of my co-workers at Super Tex.

  • MORNING OUT OF TIME I have to say, it was a fantastic morning for photography with ground fog everywhere.

    MORNING OUT OF TIME I have to say, it was a fantastic morning for photography with ground fog everywhere.

  • POWER PLANT Whenever we fly this route, I always have to take a photo of the power plant. I don't know why.

    POWER PLANT Whenever we fly this route, I always have to take a photo of the power plant. I don't know why.

  • CROSSING INTERSTATE 30 We're crossing over Interstate 30 now with Dalrock Park in the near distance. It's about Rush Hour right now, so lots of people got to see the show.

    CROSSING INTERSTATE 30 We're crossing over Interstate 30 now with Dalrock Park in the near distance. It's about Rush Hour right now, so lots of people got to see the show.

  • COMING DOWN Dave decided to perform a little Splash-'n-Dash to amuse Doug Two and the guy in the boat, so we're headed down to the water. What Dave didn't plan on was a faulty fuel gauge on the only propane tank in operation. We found the hard way it takes exactly one tank of propane to get from where we took off to right here. At this point, I'm furiously changing propane tanks, but it was too little too late. Hang on! Here we go!!!

    COMING DOWN Dave decided to perform a little Splash-'n-Dash to amuse Doug Two and the guy in the boat, so we're headed down to the water. What Dave didn't plan on was a faulty fuel gauge on the only propane tank in operation. We found the hard way it takes exactly one tank of propane to get from where we took off to right here. At this point, I'm furiously changing propane tanks, but it was too little too late. Hang on! Here we go!!!

  • SPASHDOWN!!! When we first hit the water, the balloon was tilted over at a 45-degree angle and water was coming in over the combing where Doug Two's foot is. It was like seining for fish. I'm surprised we didn't catch any. Those are my legs on the other side of the basket.

    SPASHDOWN!!! When we first hit the water, the balloon was tilted over at a 45-degree angle and water was coming in over the combing where Doug Two's foot is. It was like seining for fish. I'm surprised we didn't catch any. Those are my legs on the other side of the basket.

  • DOUG ONE HAVING FUN Hey, what else can you do in this situation, except contemplate abandoning ship to relieve the balloon of some weight. I was just about to do just that when I noticed us starting to gain some altitude. After we broke the surface tension of the water, we shot up into the air like a rocket. I'm glad I stayed in.

    DOUG ONE HAVING FUN Hey, what else can you do in this situation, except contemplate abandoning ship to relieve the balloon of some weight. I was just about to do just that when I noticed us starting to gain some altitude. After we broke the surface tension of the water, we shot up into the air like a rocket. I'm glad I stayed in.

  • EYE-IN-THE-SKY I can't remember if this is a news chopper or the police chopper, but both were looking around for the balloon that "crashed into Lake Ray Hubbard" as one commuter put it. My dad heard all about it on the news radio and wondered if I knew who the people were. Imagine his amusement to find out it was his very own son!

    EYE-IN-THE-SKY I can't remember if this is a news chopper or the police chopper, but both were looking around for the balloon that "crashed into Lake Ray Hubbard" as one commuter put it. My dad heard all about it on the news radio and wondered if I knew who the people were. Imagine his amusement to find out it was his very own son!

  • FALCON'S LAIR Mesquite, Texas - 1986

    FALCON'S LAIR Mesquite, Texas - 1986

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    UH, ARE YOU SURE? Hal's all wrapped up in the skirt at this point. What next?
    THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY Dave looking on in disbelief as Hal and Nancy get the skirt packed away. What a project!
    INITIATION TIME If I'm not mistaken, this is the first ride after Susan got her pilot's license. Humiliation is in store.