Fly Footloose!

Hiya Rick! Good to see you on the Monkey! We really missed you at Fiesta this year (Wow - it sure was great!) and I'd love to hear about your adventures in Turkey... Let's chat soon! - Jonathan

Rick, Be a good friend and bring that cloudhopper down here so I can try it out. I now have a house with a spare bedroom if you need a place to stay. Karen

Hey Rick...welcome to "the Monkey". Hoping to make it up your way this winter for some flying. We'll have to do breakfast again. - Jim

hi rick,sold my company BALLOONDOWNUNDER to my brother and wanted to see the world,so,turkey is part one.amazing landscape and have flown 84 of the last 90 days,so ,obviosly the flying weather is superb. 30 balloons up every morning. seniz is one of our company pilots.

You peaked my interest,,Is it someone in NC? Does that mean you may be here around Christimas?

Nice to hearb from you-

Thank you for the nice comment to my little story about aerostat. It makes for a wonderful justification to give my mother when she complains that I was running around the country side on Sunday morning instead of sitting in the pew next to her! :0)

Rick, Blastvalve is an awesome site, I use the BalloonCast all the time. I enjoy reading those balloon reviews in the magazine also.

Turkey? Kind of ironic for this time of year! That 3-day page looks awesome! I'm definately going to have to use that. Looks a lot like usairnet.com's stuff, but I like some of your graphics better. Theirs is always low on the wind speed too. Unfortunately the weather doesn't have any good news for us here in NC the next couple of days.

Yes that would be the same Tom Brown!! I'm having lunch with him today I'll tell him you say Hello. He bought a new envelope this summer so he's flying high and looking great!!

I crew for a bunch of different pilots. I do a few events in Michigan. I have been to New England, but haven't done any events out there ... but I would like too. Megan

Hi Rick,

About an inch remains on the ground, flew in light (but large flaked) snow today, the punters were from Singapore so really loved it.
Suat is away in Trabzon with the family & goes to UK on Christmas eve to see Rachel. I leave when he returns in Feb. Initially to Cullman, Alabama to see & collect Krystal ( she has been living with me here since mid October) & her Mother, then take them both back to Torpoint, Cornwall to see my folks & get married there too.
May try & get a flight or so in in the US in Feb if I can find a meet (can travel anywhere) or a local balloonist who flys wintertime.
Cheers,
Jerry

Hey Rick, I'm kickin' around the idea of a homebuilt hopper with another site member--got any advice or warnings? Nice shots in your photo album. Who are the other hopper members on this site?

Hey Rick,
Thanks for the message and words of encouragement about xlta and the hopper scene. I've been working and learning with a bunch of great folks in Central Florida near Orlando and have been learning to fly in baskets and already have about 7 hours of flight time. Soloing might be in the nearest future if we get good spring weather. I've been really appreciative of the comments from guys like yourself and Keith Sproul with his odd shapes. The most challenging part of hoppers (I think) might be the burner construction and the safety of the envelope design and manufacture. Ya know, just the little stuff that can kill ya...
Anyway, let's stay in touch. I'll keep ya posted on what the plan is but for now it's to get licensed and experienced. I think construction will probably begin around June. I'm looking forward to your article and thanks again for writing back. J

Sorry for the delay but a combination of being busy & a lack of broadband internet in England means I didnt have to for all my usual sites. Settling down to married life with Krysal back here in Urgup now - thanks for your wishes from both of us.

Jerry & Krystal

hey rick, i am back in turkey ,for another stint with suat but am keen to work in the states ,next year. could you suggest a website that advertises positions vacant. or is there another way i can get my profile out there. thanks david

thanks mate, did not get the othert message above

I love the hoppers, I have a T/C 24. Very small for Alb.

The experimental meet sounds fun except for the thousands of dollars it would cost to get there! Put some pictures up here on the monkey when its done.

hi rick,
i was just wondering about your single seater
i myself have one and find it great fun to fly in
i was wondering what make yours is and where the gas bottle is mounted? also how much air time do you get in one flight?
andreas