Visitors to our site:
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Weather Links
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Sponsors
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 George Ibach
Ibach Balloon Company
Your local Lindstrand Dealer
612-518-6881 Cell
612-378-8833 Minneapolis
715-639-5590 Wisconsin
www.ibachballoon.com
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Keeping the spirit
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The Minnesota Ballooning Association serves the entire state of Minnesota. This web site is being designed to better serve all balloonists in the state and provide a common forum for all members.
We are giving our web site a new look, but more importantly, more functionality. We will be adding a member log on feature, forums, feed back, many email options, etc. Be patient !
One new feature is a rides@MnBallooning.com email address available to any member that signs up for a minimal fee. This will provide better service to the public and give the ride operators an opportunity to sell rides through the web site.
Currently the old web site are still operational and is located at
MnBallooning.com - Old Site
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Long Jump 2008 - 2009
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GEORGE IBACH on February 10, 2008 George completed a very successful long jump, a hump jump across Minnesota. Stayed tuned for further details. Rumor has it; top speed of 92 mph and a max altitude of 15,000.
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Minnesota Aviation Hall Of Fame - Piccard Family
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May 2, 2009 marked the twentieth annual Induction Ceremony to the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. There were seven inductees; one of those was Don Piccard, representing the Piccard family as being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Don had the audience right from the start, as he said that he had been decribed as being someone who would take a cat to the Westminster Dog Show. I've heard many of Don's presentations and he asked the audience, as he almost always does, if there was anyone else in the room who had shared a handshake with Orville Wright. No others present (over 400) had! He also noted that two of the seven being inducted were deceased and congratulated the Hall OF Fame for selecting him while he was still alive!
The citation for Don in the brochure at each seating location read as follows:
Donald Piccard 1926-
"Donald Piccard represents three generations of Piccards whose lives have centered on research and sport ballooning. In 1947 Piccard made his first solo balloon flight and became the first FAA certified free balloon pilot. He started the Balloon Club of America in 1948, and made headlines across the country as a pioneer.He flew the first plastic Pleiades balloon in 1957, worked for the G.T. Schjeldahl Company, where he made the first superpressure balloon, then joined Raven Industries, where he helped develop hot air balloons. Piccard, starting with the St. Paul Winter Carnival's Hot Air Balloon Race, created the modern sport of hot air ballooning. In later years, Piccard's own companies built a very popular and successful line of gas and hot air balloons.
His pioneering balloon family includes his uncle Auguste Piccard, first man in the stratosphere, his father, Jean, who invented the multi-balloon and the plastic balloon, his mother, Jeanette who flew the first FAA class "Space Craft" (the Century of Progress Balloon) into the stratosphere, his wife, Wilma, a championship and record-holding balloon pilot and his cousin bertrand Piccard, who was the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a balloon."
It was a privilege to share the table with Don and Willie on a special night!
Ed Chapman
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Balloons Over Rochester - Update
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Hello everyone,
With warm weather comes outdoor activities, and for us in ballooning, another season of fun in the air! Here is a brief reminder of what is coming up.
April 26th, from 2:00 to 4:00pm at Whistlebinkies on the Lake, we will review the 2009 MBA safety seminar highlights for those who could not make it, crew will find this beneficial!
May 31st, because the 24th is Memorial weekend, we will move the May meeting to the 5th sunday that month. New crew from Spring Community-ed class will have an opprtunity to meet our group. Due to the Mayor's Cup Rally cancelled this year, we will discuss alternatives, we all hope for the best next year!
June 28th, we will talk about events around the area this summer and early fall, and talk about ballooning so far this year. Beverages and food can always be purchased at the meetings, come to relax and share a story or two!
Remember; If the weather is flyable the day of our meetings, it would be nice to get a few balloons in the air, if not that day, maybe even that weekend of our meetings?
Statewide events and information are also available on the Minnesoat Ballooning Associations website, Congratulations to Craig Richardt, a rochester pilot who is the newly elected president of the MBA! There is a memdership drive currently going on, we will have information and forms at all of our BOR meetings.
Sincerely soft landings
mike the "flitemeister"
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Rochester Mayors Cup Cancelled for 2009
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The Mayors Cup Invitational Balloon Race in Rochester MN has been cancelled for the year 2009. Questions? Contact George Ibach at iballoon23@hotmail.com
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2009 MBA Safety Seminar ~ March 28, 2009
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2009 MBA Safety Seminar
Was a Great Success!!
The MBA Safety Seminar at Tartan High School in Oakdale, MN On March 28, 2009 was a great success. The facilities were very well suited for the presentations given, the seating was up close and personal. The atmosphere was casual and the interaction of all attendees was very productive. All speakers stayed on task and kept the pace moving. With a little humor the audiance remained engaged. A big thank you to Annette Neidere, Ed Knutson-Smisek, Kim Dickey and all who helped the day of the seminar for a job well done. Thank you ! If you have any concerns or further comments please forward them to the MBA at seminar@MnBallooning.com or call Annette Niedere at 651-303-1333.
Click Here For Additional Seminar Information
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FAA and BFA "Online" Safety Seminar
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The FAA and BFA put together the first web based safety seminar on February 9, 2008. I am waiting for the final word, but I believe it was a great success. I attended the seminar as it happened live from Florida. Great speakers that included Beth Miller (IMC), Tarp Head (Head Balloons), Jim Lynch, Jim Thompson, Bill Wydon, to name a few. Don Edwards did a great job as MC and taskmaster. This was an all day event and worth every minute. Attendees were given insurance credit, as IMC was also very supportive of this first time 'online' event. Looking forward to more in the future. IMC will also give credit hours for FAA Wings seminar attendance in your area. Call IMC for details and possible seminar credits.
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Balloons Over Rochester Club Formed
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The Rochester Minnesot area has a new balloon group. B.O.R. will be holding monthly meetings every 4th Sunday of the month, 2:00pm at Whistle Binkies on the lake. Come for fellowship, food, and maybe even share something that members can apply to ballooning in '08!! Whistle Binkies asks that we at least purchase a beverage during the meeting, at individuals expense, by the way they have the BEST popcorn in town! Everyone is welcome, pilots, crew, community ed students, and any interested people as there is no membership fee. Congratualations to the B.O.R. Well done Mike.
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Give Us Your Feedback !
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New Board Members Elected
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The Votes are counted and ...
the MBA has a new board!
The members have voted and we have new officers elected to the MBA Board for 2009. Craig Richardt has been elected to the position of President. Dave Johnson was voted to the position of Vice President and Glen Terry to the position of Treasurer. Annette Nierdere is currently the Safety Commintte Chairperson. The position of Secretary is still open and those duties will be appointed as needed. Congratulations to all!!
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Email Updates Requested!
If you would like to receive emails from the MBA, we will need an updated email address. Thanks, Glen
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Membership Drive 2009
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It's that time of year! Membership is getting back on track, support your MBA by becoming a member for 2009. We are looking ahead in 2009 for better communication through email and timely updates to the web site. Your stories of events and up coming events are more than welcome. What's happening in the Minnesota Ballooning Community? We'd all like to know! It's also time to consider nominations for board positions and suggestions to better serve our membership.
Interested in becoming a member? Please send membership fees (Annual $20) directly to Glen Terry at 18815 Jasper street NW, Anoka, MN 55303 ... Thanks in advance, Glen!
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Updating the MBA Website
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The Minnesota Ballooning Association web site is again under construction. We are giving our web site a new look, but more importantly, more functionality. We will be adding a member log on feature, forums, feed back, many email options, etc. Be patient ! One new feature will provide a rides@MnBallooning.com email address that will go directly to any ride business that signs up. This should provide better service to the public and give the ride operations a better opportunity to sell rides. Parts of the old web site are still operational and located at http://www.mnballooning.com/MBA/
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