All things ballooning

Don's Friends

Don's discussions

Started May 22

Replied Dec. 8, 2007

Don left a comment for Tim Sep 20

Kasey Schwemmer left a comment for Don Sep 17

Don left a comment for Kasey Schwemmer Sep 17

Don left a comment for Tom Rathke May 28

Hans Funk and Don commented on the photo Balloon in Thailand May 22

Hans Funk left a comment for Don May 22

Don started a discussion called Brazil???May 22

Dawn Chase left a comment for Don May 21

At 8:55am on September 18th, 2008, Kasey Schwemmer said…: Likewise Don. The balloon is flying great so far. Havent had it out in a while... bad weather around these parts lately.

At 2:42am on May 23rd, 2008, Hans Funk said…: Hi Don
Just joined the forum yesterday. Nice to see you around. You remember the 1. ABQ Poster from 1972 that you delivered to my home in Switzerland? Is't up the wall in my office just behind the monitor.
soft landings
Hans

At 10:43am on May 22nd, 2008, Don said…: That is a Raven promotional film. It starts with a shortened clip of Ed's first flight. They edited out the "landing". Nobody landed a Raven hot air balloon until I went to work for them. That is a long story, but i was the first to land without jumping out and running before it hit the ground.
They had no clue about flying balloons. It all goes back to the silent entry plastic gas balloons that didn't have rip panels. They just bailed out when they got close to the ground.

The full Navy film on Yost's first few flights is a hoot.

Can you imagine flying a balloon with no skirt or load tapes? That had to wait for me to join the firm. Coiled burners, too. (But Tracy was using them straight off the shelf from "Detroit Flamegas Company".)

At 10:31am on May 22nd, 2008, Dawn Chase said…: Don... I found a video on You Tube and added here... it is of an early Navy balloon... can you watch and add any info about it???

At 5:42pm on May 12th, 2008, Tony Goodnow said…: Hi Don-

While in Anthony, KS this weekend I stopped in to talk to Herb Wilcox for a while. Got to see a couple of your old baskets and what he thinks is the 13th balloon you made. He sends his regards and shared a few stories as well.

-Tony

At 11:28am on February 19th, 2008, Don said…: Gee, I'm away behind : three cars all two wheel drive, one fore, two rear. I did almost get stuck the other day in a foot of snow on top of slick ice. But I didn't.

I have not even put the chains on in YEARS.

At 3:55pm on February 5th, 2008, mark mitchell said…: kind of like four wheel drives now everyone here has one

At 3:53pm on February 5th, 2008, mark mitchell said…: yes i must admit that it was a little before my time where no one had a fan as i was born in the 80ies and it was more un cool than anything lol

At 4:47pm on February 4th, 2008, mark mitchell said…: it is an honour to make your acquaintance don

At 10:08am on January 29th, 2008, Sean Kavanagh said…: Ha, good to hear from you Don. I am sure your life has been exciting enough to not need one like mine....I just try and make the short bursts of excitement sound like they last longer than they really do.

The folks are very well and it would be great to catch up some time. I have to get back to the US but who knows when.