Balloon Federation of America

The Balloon Federation of America (BFA) is a 501c3 non-profit group for the advancement of lighter-than-air aviation which includes hot air and gas balloons. Founded in 1960, located in Indianola, Iowa. The BFA partners with the National Balloon Museum to induct outstanding individuals into the United States Ballooning Hall of Fame. The Federation presents multiple awards including the Ed Yost Master Pilot Award and the National Crew Person Award. The BFA facilitates balloon events by providing advice and guidance on FAA compliance.[1]

Balloon Fiesta, Fiesta park, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Night glow for pictures

BFA membership is open to everyone. Membership at BFA.net includes: the organization's magazine "Ballooning;" achievement recognition for pilots, crew, and observers; flight instructor program; balloon education via on-line video library for pilot and Crew training; and on-line safety seminars. Optional membership benefits include: youth programs; balloon regional, national, and world competitions; Professional Ride Operators (PRO) Division; gas balloon competitions including the America's Challenge and Gordon Bennett Cup; and a legal services plan.[2] Operated by volunteers, the National Balloon Museum is colocated with the BFA and the over 100 hot air balloon event the National Balloon Classic.[3]

Balloon Federation History

In 1948, balloonist Don Piccard formed the first national balloon organization in the United States, the Balloon Club of America (BCA). He teamed with early BCA member Tony Fairbanks, a student pilot in the Cleveland Balloon Club (CBC) before WWII, donating a 80,000 cu ft balloon net. Fairbanks was not drafted for WWII so while the Cleveland members went to war he inherited all the CBC's balloons and equipment. US Navy Lieutenant Punderson, working for Douglas Leigh Sky Advertising, convinced owner Douglas Leigh to donate several salvage U.S. Army balloons from the War Assets Administration. These balloons were distributed free to balloon clubs across the country. The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) designated the BCA as the official US representatives to enter European balloon races thereby qualifying the BCA for free air travel on the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). MATS eventually required benefits to be granted only to national associations, thus the Akron balloon group was invited to join the BCA. [4]

In 1960, five years of study and development by a group of General Mills employees, including Ed Yost, produced the modern hot air balloon. A delegation represented by NE Philadelphia FAA tower controller Pete Pellegrino, Iowa lawyer/balloonist Don Kersten, and veteran balloonist Ed Yost, traveled to Washington D.C. seeking government recognition for the BCA. Under the guidance of the National Aeronautic Association, with the support of NAA's Randy Randelman, the Balloon Club created a new organization: "The Balloon Federation of America" (BFA). The initial Balloon Club group volunteered their time, expenses, and initially funded the BFA. Ed Yost, known as the "Father of Hot Air Ballooning", charged new organization members: "Balloons are precious!, make our organization likewise!"  [5]

National Balloon Museum

The National Balloon Museum is a non-profit museum that is located in Indianola, Iowa. It was founded in 1975 in short term locations, later gaining a permanent location in 1988.[6] All of the museum's exhibits are about hot air ballooning and gas ballooning.[7] The museum is in the shape of a hot air balloon's gondola.[7] The other large balloon museum in the United States is the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[8]

National Balloon Museum origins

The US National Hot Air Balloon Championship (BFA) preliminaries were held in Indianola in 1970. Due to the success of the competition, the championships started happening every year which led to exhibits being created yearly for the competition. However, the exhibits could only be put up temporarily. The short term exhibits created a need for a museum where they can be stored year round.[6] The exhibits are from the Balloon Federation of America, covering over 200 years of history.[7] Included in the museum's collection is the first hot air balloon that crossed the English Channel.[8] Located within the museum is the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame, a children's area and a library.[9] The children's area has photo shoots and books about ballooning.[10]

All of the museum's workers are volunteers. 24,000 people visit the museum each year, with the visitors coming from twenty countries.[11] The museum has hosted a nine day long festival, titled the National Balloon Classic, yearly in late July since 1989.[10] A large donation was received to continue the museum's operation in 2015. The donation was left in a will and was in a large unspecified amount.[8]

U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame

The U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame is located at the National Balloon Museum in Indianola, Iowa and "recognizes persons who have contributed in significant ways to the sport and or development of Ballooning."

The following persons have been inducted into the Hall of Fame:[12]

Balloon Licensing

Depending on the size of the balloon, location, and intended use, hot air balloons and their pilots need to comply with a variety of regulations.

Balloons

All aircraft in the US which includes hot air balloons subject to FAA regulations via US Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). All balloons must be registered with an N-number, have an airworthiness certificate, and pass an annual inspection. Balloons below a certain size (empty weight of less than 155 pounds or 70 kg including envelope, basket, burners and empty fuel tanks) can be used as an ultralight aircraft.

Pilots

Pilot certificates are issued by the FAA via US Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61 - CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS. Pilots must operate via Title 14 CFR PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES. [15] Raven Industries developed the first modern hot air balloon in 1960-1961 and being a new aircraft, no specific FAA requirements existed. Circa 1963, Raven Industries engaged the FAA for certifying hot air balloons. Around 1964 the FAA introduced the balloon category with no requirements until 1974 with 14 CFR Part 61 guidance for Private and Commercial pilot certificates. [16]

See also

References
  1. "Welcome to the BFA!". BFA.net. BFA. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  2. "Become a member". BFA.net. BFA. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. "While Balloons Soar, Their History is Located in Indianola". Newspapers.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  4. "Balloon Club of America - history". BFA.net. BFA. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  5. "Ed Yost - BFA History Letter". BFA.net. BFA. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. Young, Jan (2016). Seventy-Seven Museum Gems. Lulu. p. 45. ISBN 9781365443992.
  7. Beck Stock, Janice (September 8, 2003). Amazing Iowa. Harper Collins. p. 37. ISBN 9781418575540.
  8. Chandler, Reid (May 20, 2015). "Indianola's National Balloon Museum gets Largest Donation Ever". WHOtv. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  9. "National Balloon Museum". AA Auto Club South. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  10. Marciniak, Kristin (February 1, 2015). What's Great about Iowa?. Lerner Publishing Group. p. 6.
  11. "National Balloon Museum & Hall of Fame". City of Indianola. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  12. "Hall of Fame Inductees". Balloon Federation of America. Balloon Federation of America. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  13. "Hall Of Fame Induction". Ballooning Hall of Fame. July 28, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  14. "Hall Of Fame 2020". nationalballoonmuseum.com. BFA. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  15. "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations". ECFR.gov. ECFR. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  16. "Early FAA Balloon Pilots Licenses". BFA.net. BFA. Retrieved May 31, 2020.

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