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4/20 NOTE: Lately the best prices have been at PublishAmerica.com
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4/20 NOTE: Lately the best prices have been at PublishAmerica.com
| July 12, 2008 Fireflies Manufacturers of hot-air balloons are a bit like car companies. The essential elements are the same in each. But there are particular characteristics to each that identify brand and thought. This is a Firefly balloon, made by The Balloon Works. The distinctive parts that make it easily and immediately identifiable are: the triangle shaped wicker basket, fabric cut and stitched on the bias…at an angle that reinforces the triangle thought, bright, vivid and graphic colors to the fabric and (what you cannot see here) the top of the balloon is not held in by velcro, but is held in by the air pressure on the inside of the envelope . The top is utilized for deflation upon landing and for allowing a little hot air to escape to maneuver the balloon during flight. The theory was always that it was more maneuverable than a side slit in the the balloon about 2/3 of the way up because you were allowing the hottest air in the balloon to escape making it more responsive. Maybe. Another thought is that if you let the hottest air out, you must hit the burners that much longer in order to slow descent. It is undeniable that the “parachute top” was an innovative development of the hot-air balloon. I have owned two balloons. Neither was a Firefly balloon. I have flown a Firefly balloon and enjoyed it very much. I would liken this discussion to similar thoughts about the differences between Fords and Chevys. I do not know the corporate history that took this manufacturer from its origins in the 1960s to present day. It is really interesting to me that today’s design retains so much of the original elements envisioned and implemented by the original company founder, Tracy Barnes (the balloon guy, not the CIA guy). Tracy was a fascinating character to me. I watched from afar as he developed his ideas with a self-confidence and determination that is so necessary to success in business. There were fewer than 100 hot air balloons in the United States in those days. There were three hot air balloons in Colorado. Yep…three. One was owned by the US Air Force Academy, one owned by Coors brewery and one owned by my father-in-law. You can understand why we knew most everyone in the US involved in the hobby at that time. Now there are thousands of balloons in Colorado alone. Firefly balloons are still beautiful and a joy to see. |
July 31, 2008 happy for E & K, because we share your happiness. Yesterday in north Texas, our son spent some of his morning on one knee asking K to spend her life with him. She said "yes". Although many miles away from them at this moment, our smiles and thoughts reflect their happiness. We still wear those smiles today and I suspect we will have them for some time to come. Congratulations to us all, but especially to E and K for finding each other. I am talking about big, big fun. |
Photo by Ty. You da man, Tyler. Thanks.