NBC
Pilot's Corner
Contents
Pilot Resources
Competition Flights
- April 2 - Jaworski
- May 7 - Lacroix
- June 4 - Dobesh
- July 9 - Jaworski (JCFD)
- Sept. 3 - Peterson
- Oct. 1 - Reid
- Nov. 5 - Jaworski
- Pilots meet 30 min. before sunrise
Sport Flights
- Feb. 19 - Lacroix
- March 19 - Peterson
- April 16 - Jones
- May 21 - Gunhus
- June 18 - Dobesh
- July 16 (AM) - Jaworski
- Aug. 20 - Mohring/Emry (in Norfolk)
- Sept. - none
- Oct. 14 - Mohring (at Wakefield)
- Nov. 19 - Grote
- Pilots meet 2½ hr. before sunset
The Pilot's Corner is a place for pilots to post:
- Stories
- Items for sale
- Items being sought
- Training/classes
- History (personal/club/ballooning)
- etc.
Send your Pilot's Corner contributions to webmaster.
Des Moines, Iowa has been selected by the 
Balloon Federation of America as the location for the 2011 BFA National Convention!! The convention will be hosted by the Iowa Balloonist Association along with the help of several Midwest balloon clubs and their members. If you would like to get involved and help celebrate the ballooning traditions and history here in central Iowa, just contact Jim Thompson at Jim@thompsonaire.com or Brian Seymour at IFDCief@man.com
Monthly Club Flight Schedule
For 2011, we will continue with the same Sport and Competition flight schedule:
Competition flights on the first Saturday morning of the month (at sunrise) during the months of April through November (July excepted). Volunteer Balloonmeisters will be responsible for organizing each flight, notifying NBC members during the preceding week, weather trending/forecasting, selecting the launch site, specifying the competition event, turning in the scoring results, and organizing any post-flight social activity.
Sport Flights on the third Saturday afternoons of the month (three hours before sunset) during the months of February through November (September excepted) from Lake Zorinsky unless otherwise noted. Balloonmeisters will be responsible for organizing each flight, notifying NBC members during the preceding week, weather trending/forecasting, selecting the launch site, and organizing any post-flight social activity. Note: Regarding the Social Activity: To maximize participation, the Balloonmeister should plan, make arrangements for, and notify NBC members of the time and location for the social activity at least 10 days prior to the flight/social activity. Except for the months of March and July when General Membership Meetings are planned, organization of a social event is at the prerogative of the Balloonmeister. Socials should be publicized and promoted by the Balloonmeister, if they are to occur. Socials should not be a routine occurrence.
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Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival Aug. 13-14, 2010
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Photos by Wayne Elsasser
The Fourth Annual Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival will be held on Friday, August 13 and Saturday, August 14. As in past years, the balloons will launch by 7:30 pm - Gates open at 5:00 pm to give spectators an early glimpse at the hot air balloons as pilots assemble them for their flights. (Weather Permitting)
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John C. Fremont Days 2010
First Lutheran Church played host once again to the John C. Fremont Days ballooning events, July 9-11, 2010. The weekend 's events began even before Friday night's scheduled Balloon Glow, as Rich Jaworski and Matt Fenster launched from the field, heading northwest across town. Both returned after the flight, to join fellow NBC balloonists for the Balloon Glow at sunset.
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6th Annual Wakefield Hot Air Balloon Festival
by Ron Dobesh; photos by Mike Peterson
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Well, they did it again; the wonderful families of Wakefield have pulled off another wonderfully memorable weekend for our annual retreat to their town and homes. 16 balloonists were scheduled to arrive and partake in the event this year, but the H1N1 took out two before they could arrive, but that did not stop the show.
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John Kugler Named NBC Pilot of the Year, Joins Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame
John Kugler was inducted into the 
Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame on January 29, 2009. The induction ceremony was held during the banquet of the Nebraska Aviation Symposium at the Kearney Holiday Inn, Kearney, Nebraska. At the Nebraska Balloon Club Banquet on January 17, 2009, John was named the NBC Pilot of the Year.
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West Point 150 - July 4-6 2008
No, it’s not a car race. West Point, NE invited the Nebraska Balloon Club to help celebrate their 150th anniversary over the July 4th weekend with something new to Cuming County, a balloon rally! Originally the goal was 15 balloons, then 10, finally 6. NBC pilots attending the rally were Alan Paul, Jim Gunhus and Wayne Mohring. After no more takers from the club it was opened up to other Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota pilots. Brand new Norfolk, NE resident and long time pilot Gordon Emry accepted the offer. Rich Jaworski was to be balloonmeister but had to bow out when he ended up with another commitment. Wayne took over the role.
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Adventure of the Heart
July 9, 2008 - The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has ratified Rich Jaworski's claim to a new AX-4 distance record.
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New Pilot Ratings / New Balloons
September 21, 2010 - Three months and 20 days 
after Michael Jones unveiled Emerald City Express in an inaugural flight from Waterloo, NE, Michael earned his Private Pilot Lighter-than-Air Free Balloon with Airborne Heater rating. Michael's checkride took place in the St. Louis, MO vicinity, under the direction of Designated Pilot Examiner Brian Trapp of Lebanon, OH. Congratulations, Michael!
June 1, 2010 - Denise Falcon passed the FAA Knowledge Examination (a "birthday gift to myself," says Denise), another milestone on her path to becoming an LTA pilot. Congratulations, Denise!
April 10, 2010 - Steve and Elane Lacroix greeted 
the arrival of spring by journeying to Winterset, IA and bringing home Celebration, their new 105,000 cu. ft. National envelope. Turbulent winter weather had delayed the maiden flight of Celebration for weeks following her completion by Bill and Louise Clemons.
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