hotairballoonist

Where were you? Funny how time flies. I still clearly remember just were I was on September 11th 2001. I had flown passengers that morning and was dropping off my morning guests when the images came over the TV in the hotel lobby! The Horrifying images froze me in that moment. I can still see the setting as clear as if I were standing there now. It is hard to imagine that was 20 years ago. EOL of Motion X Many of you are aware of the “End of Life” of the Motion X program. I have used it for years for pre-flight planning to determine my launch and potential landing areas. The “Measure Tool” in Motion X was fantastic for determining your distance and direction from any two spots on your map. They were easy to move around and they gave you the distance and direction for accurately planning your flight. By using the observations we gained from our Pi-bal we could choose a launch site that would give us a few good landing areas down wind and consistently land in a chosen spot. This flight planning tool was incorporated into the latest update of the HotAir.app 12.0. We were asked if there was a way to migrate the waypoints from the Motion X application over to the HotAir.app. The answer was YES but it was a little bit tricky so we created a tutorial for the process. The Tutorial can be found in the Download Center under Tutorials & Presentations. MotionX to HotAir.app (Remember all downloads are FREE to members) Don’t let it sneak up on you. As many of you know my commercial flying was abruptly ended by a hemorrhagic stroke. I let my health slip to a point where I nearly passed away! I did not realize it was happening. Yes I knew I was overweight but I was out flying nearly every day! I worked hard the rest of the day on equipment and cleaning vans and running errands. My blood pressure was a little high but not horrible. My doctor had noticed a little increase in my blood sugar levels but here again nothing to be worried about. But what I did not know what the under it all I had Hepatitis C. (I was given tainted blood from a motorcycle accident back in the 1980’s before anyone knew what Hep C was) This was causing damage to my liver. The combination of all the things at once caused my stroke. 5 days in a coma and nearly a month in the hospital. Even after I came home I spent 6 months feeling like I had been drug behind a pickup truck across a plowed Iowa corn field. Here we are 20 months later and I still have issues with my balance and equilibrium. My point is this. Please take care of your health. I miss the joy of ballooning and the ability to share the magic of LTA flight with those who have never taken a balloon flight. But you have to take care of you first! I will still continue to do anything I can to help everyone in the Balloon World in any way I can. Most of all I want each of you to make sure you take a good look at your HEALTH. Take it serious so it won’t take ballooning away from you like it did to me. Equipment 4Sale As many of you know there is an entire section on the HotAirBalloonist.com site for equipment. You do not need to be a member to post something for sale or to look at the items that are posted for sale. Anyone wanting to list items can also include up to 20 megabytes of photos and all the descriptive text they wish. Don’t forget to check the “Notify me of Reply’s”. This way when someone asks a question about your equipment you will instantly get an email from the HAB system letting you know that someone is interested in your equipment. One of the best features about the entire Equipment 4SALE are the Sub-Cats. The primary Forum is Equipment 4SALE but inside that Forum are Categories such as Full Systems, Envelopes, Baskets & Bottom Ends and so on. And inside each of those Categories are Sub-Cats. For example the Category “Full Systems” will have Sub-Cats of (69k or smaller) (70K to 90K) (91K to 120K) (121K to 175K) (176K and UP) So as you can see the layout is super easy to use to find exactly what you are looking for quickly. Go have a look or better yet post an item for sale! Ballooning in the News Here is a story that was just 3 hours old when I pulled it off the HAB site. Young Bothell native leading new generation of hot air balloon pilots Many of the members do not realize that we have two active internet web scrubbers that work 24/7 to find balloon related stories for our balloonists. These scrubbers look for any stories on the internet that have balloon related content. One of the scrubbers looks for any topic about ballooning and the other one looks for balloon festival related articles. The results of these can be found under “Current News” / Ballooning in the NEWS. The Main content of the page has the articles the primary scrubber has found and the age of the article so you can see how recent the article is. Festival news can be found on the Right Hand side bar. Those articles also have a time stamp to show you the age of the article. So if you wish to find out the latest balloon news anywhere on the web just save this link and check in anytime. Ballooning in the NEWS Pi-Ball by Drone Yep that’s right, Soon you may no longer need a helium balloon and a compass to get your wind readings and a theodolite may become a museum piece like a slide rule or a sextant. A few smart fellows have figured out that by computing the speed of the motors on a drone (needed to keep the drone in a stationary position) can be used to determine the speed and direction of the winds at different altitudes. Since Drones are now using GPS for positioning and navigation they are also being used for altitude control they can be used to calculate the wind speed and direction more accurately than a pi-ball or even a theodolite. We will be diving more into this in our next newsletter but I thought I might give you a little tease into some of the stuff I have been looking into No more Glympse So the rumors are true. The app Glympse is going to be discontinued. For those of you who use the app HotAir there will be an update soon with a replacement tracking module built into the app. I have not been given any more details at this time. But as soon as I have more I promise I will send out a newsletter with as much details as I can. In the mean time I will be doing some research on some other tracking applications that would work well for ballooning. I have started a topic in the forum “Hot Topics” in the category Hot Topics if any of you have other apps you use for balloon tracking that you wish to share with the rest of us. The part that disappoints me the most is the new hashtag ability that Glympse had just introduced where you could have several pilots all use the same hashtag and all show up on a single map together. Hopefully whatever replacement the HotAir.app will incorporate will have that ability. I challenge you. When was the last time you did your weight and balance for a flight? No honestly! Not guessing or approximately or good guess or close enough for government work but really set down and took 5 minutes and worked it out! Here are the rules. 10 minutes into the flight at 1000 AGL you must be within 10 degrees of your average envelope temp. Do your weight and balance sheet before your flight. Give the balloon about 10 minutes to burn off any dew or moisture that may be on the envelope and allow the webbing or load tapes to absorb the envelope heat so the balloon temperature levels out. See if you can do your weight and balance well enough to be within 10 degrees of accurate! If nothing else it will be a great and educational exercise! For those of you who use the HotAir.app there is a Payload Calculator you can test out on the Real-Time settings page. Put your Waiver on your Tablet Did you know you can have your waiver on your tablet? Currently we work with several ride operations who request that the passengers print, sign and bring their waivers with them when they come to fly. However there are always those who show up without a waiver. This then requires them to carry a notebook and paper copies for the passengers to read and sign the morning of the flight. BUT, We can also create an online PDF waiver for you to use. There is a tutorial presentation in the Download center that explains the process on how to get YOUR Waiver online for you to use on your device. You can then have the passenger sign it and you can email yourself a copy and print it when you get back after the flight. Or even save the digital copy and avoid all the paper and ink in the first place. Here is the link to that tutorial. Many of you are gearing up for the big one. This one will be a special event after a year absent. Please be alert and safe. Fly only when you are comfortable doing so and be extra vigilant about everything. Enjoy seeing your family and friends and make the most of an amazing event but most of all remember that you represent all of us, even those of us who cannot be there. Have fun and be safe. Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World. Jeff A Thompson

Looking for some help from our members. On the HAB site we have an area for Balloon Articles. These can be written by anyone. Do you have an article you have written about a ballooning topic! Would you like to write an article about something balloon related? It can be anything from how you train your ground team to the Go No/Go limits you have for flying passengers. We have a bunch of categories and are happy to add more if you wish to see more areas. We can also make the Article Categories available for viewing by guests (anyone) or for Members who are logged into the site. So, have a look! Go to the HotAirballoonist.com site. Run your mouse over (or click) the “Current News” link at the top of the page. There is a categories block in the right hand column where you can see the current article categories. If you have a new category for this page or if you feel that a current category or a new category should be a members only area just let me know. Send your emails to Jeff@HotAirBalloonist.com. Log in and post a new article today! Share your experience, wisdom, wit and knowledge! Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World. Jeff A Thompson

The 2021 KML files for the National Balloon Classic are up! Go to the HotAirBalloonist.com site. LOG IN! Then click on the “Download Center” link in the sub-menu at the top of the page. In the download center, look over on the right side to find the categories. You are looking for the Launch and Land (Maps & GPS Files). Click on that category and look for the Sub-Category “Indianola” When you enter that Sub-Category you will find the first 4 files are for the 2021 National Balloon Classic. The Files are as follows. · 2021 National balloon Classic Targets (KML) This is for use with the HotAir.app or any other application that can use a KML file. Click on that link, BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, click the “Follow button” at the top right hand side just below the file title. Then Click Download, (Select Save in HotAir) · 2021 National balloon Classic Targets (GPX) This is for use with any application that can use a GPX file. Click on that link, BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, click the “Follow button” at the top right hand side just below the file title. Then Click Download · 2021 National balloon Classic 3D PZ (KML) This is for use with the HotAir.app or any other application that can use a KML file. Click on that link, BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, click the “Follow button” at the top right hand side just below the file title. Then Click Download, (Select Save in HotAir) · 2021 National balloon Classic PZ (KML) This is for use with the HotAir.app or any other application that can use a KML file. Click on that link, BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, click the “Follow button” at the top right hand side just below the file title. Then Click Download, (Select Save in HotAir) You can fly with all three KML files turned on at the same time if you wish. We suggest you fly with the 3D KML file turned on so you can see the Red and Gray zones in 3D and you can review your flight track in 3D after the flight. See the Viewing Flight Tracks in 3D presentation. We have noticed that sometimes the HotAir.app will hold onto old map files in its application memory. When uploading a new file we suggest that you delete the old file first. You can delete a file simply by going to the Real Time Settings page and select Custom KML Map Overlays. To delete a file left swipe on the file and tap on Delete. Then close the HotAir.app. When you reopen the application the map files should have been purged and you can now download a new version. While you are logged in we suggest you download the HotAir.app tutorial located in the download center under Tutorial Presentations. Remember MEMBERS can download all files for FREE! If you have any trouble logging into the site try the Password recovery system or send me a note at Jeff@HotAirBalloonist.com and I am happy to help you. REMEMBER TO FOLLOW! If you click the Follow button the HAB system will send you an email instantly when a new file has been loaded. When something on the map changes and a new file is uploaded, you will know right away. Downloading a new map file takes seconds! So always stay up to date by using the Follow feature on each file you download. There is a presentation for the Follow Feature too! May the winds be light and the turn is huge. Remember there are very few people in the world that can do what you do in a balloon. It is called the “Art of Aerostation” for a reason. For all of those (Pilots and Ground Teams) whom are heading to the National Balloon Classic, Have fun, Be safe and know I wish with all my heart I could be there with you all. Jeff A Thompson

CLASSIC MAPS We are again providing free downloads and updates for the National Balloon Classic map files again this year. If you use the HotAir.app (or any application for flying) and would like the KML or GPX files for the maps and the targets for the National Balloon Classic they will be available on the HotAirBalloonist.com site in the Download Center. Navigate to the Download Center. Look in the right hand column and you will see a category called “Launch and Land” (MAPS & GPS files), under that category you will see a forum called Indianola. This is where you will find the map file downloads. IMPORTANT! Remember to check the Follow button in that forum. When you “Follow” an item, and a new file is uploaded, you will receive an instant email notification! Whenever the map is altered you will know about it and you will be able to download a new version instantly. Never wonder again if your map is up to date! Here are helpful links. Follow Feature Indianola Map Downloads HotAirApp Tutorial Digital Waivers Would you like to have your waiver on your electronic device? We can help with that! Send us your waiver. We will digitize it and place it on our server. Then we will provide you a link you can use on your device. (phone, mini, tablet, ipad ect) Simply type in the passengers name, have them sign with their finger and send a copy (via email) to yourself and the passenger. Quick Easy and paperless. We have a tutorial presentation on how this works for one of our clients. Have a look and let us know if you would like this set up for you. Email waivers to Jeff@HotAirBalloonist.com Remember to log in! ALL OF THE DOWNLOADS on HotAirBalloonist.com are FREE to members when logged in. You also must be logged in to use the “Follow” feature. So please remember to log in. If you have forgotten your user name or password, there is a password recovery system on the site or you can email us for help. As Always, Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World. Jeff A Thompson

Yes they are!

View File Monthly to Yearly Many new members start off with a monthly membership to see if they like the site. After a while they realize they would rather pay just once a year for tier membership. This video shows you how to change from a monthly membership to a yearly membership. Submitter hotairballoonist Submitted 08/09/2021 Category Video Tutorials  

Add some interior photos when you have time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcM5J5h1jis

Currently we have no scores to post. Hopefully as the event will supply us with scores as they are posted at the event. Remember to click the FOLLOW button at the top of this post so you will be notified when new scores are posted. Thank you.

As many of you begin to take flight and events are starting to take place all over the country we want to ask everyone to please be extra cautious. Some have not flown in a very long time! Take things slow and double and triple check everything. Look over ALL of your equipment with a fresh eye. The same goes for the ground team. We want everyone to have a fantastic flying season with old friends and most of all a safe flying season! Motion X to HotAir Many pilots who have used the Motion X app for years are switching over to the HotAir.app. The recent update “HotAir 12.0” has included many new features. In fact our tutorial on the HotAir.app went from 39 pages to over 100 pages (to give you an idea of all the new features). We were recently asked if there was a way to get the waypoints from Motion X transferred over to the HotAir.app. The answer is YES you can. We have created a PDF tutorial (Available for download) on how to transfer your Motion X waypoints over to the HotAir.app. Here is the link. Remember you must be logged in to download tutorials for FREE! You can find the download in the Download Center under the category “Tutorials & Presentations”. Event Scores We have created a new category for balloon events. This new category is for Event Scores. If you look under the heading of “Current News” you will see a tab marked “Event Scores” This is a new category were you can start a topic about your event or even an event you are flying in and post the scores. You can add a PDF of the current scores or you can simply upload an image of a score sheet. Then as new scores are posted you can simply go back and “EDIT” your topic and add the new images or PDF files. This is a great way to keep your family or other balloon friends up to date on the event stats. I am happy to help anyone (pilot or event organizer) use this new category on the HotAirBalloonist.com site. Since my stroke I am no longer able to fly competition but still love it and I am sure there are many other balloonists out there who would also love to keep up to date on competition scores. There is a topic posted in the new category along with a “How To” video. Have a look at this today! YOU@HotAirBalloonist.com How would you like an email address of your own at HotAirBalloonist.com? You can! Use your own name or even your balloons name. If you have a name you would like to use please email me at Jeff@HotAirBalloonist.com. Yes Jeff@ has been taken. Speaking about events. I am sure many of you already know but as a reminder we have news scrubbers on the HotAirBalloonist.com site. In the Current Events category there is a page called “Ballooning in the NEWS”. The main content (Center area) of this page is any balloon news that is posted on the internet. In the right hand column of the page there is another feed called “Balloon Festival News” This page is a great one to have Book-marked on your browser. You can go to one page and see the headlines about ballooning in the news. Find out about ballooning events FIRST! New Sites being developed. As many of you know I have been grounded by a hemorrhagic stroke. While this has made flying commercially (currently) not an option for me my work on the HotAirBalloonist.com site continues with new Categories, Topics and How To videos and tutorial presentations. In addition to the HAB site I have also been working on other sites for fellow balloonists. The most recent sites are www.Balloons-andBeyond.com and www.FlipFlopFantasies.com The Flip Flop site has been developed for a special shape balloon with an online booking calendar. It includes (Paperless) online waivers, tether contracts and even balloon festival appearance contracts all online! If you would like to have your website rebuilt and/or updated let me know! I am happy to take on new clients and especially fellow balloonists sites since I have a little experience with ballooning and running a commercial ride operation. AGAIN PLEASE BE SAFE With the recent incident in Albuquerque I urge everyone to fly safely. Remember you represent all of us! I am thrilled every day when I receive news of pilots receiving the Ed Yost Master Pilot award. Remember flying safe takes effort and alertness and the ability to know your own personal limits. Thank YOU for all you do for the balloon world. Jeff A Thompson

View File Downloading Map Files Downloading Map files for use with the HotAir.App Submitter hotairballoonist Submitted 07/10/2021 Category Video Tutorials  

There are many pilots all over the country interested in the scores from balloon events. Many events have websites that just do not allow you to post easily the scores form your competition event. HotAirBalloonist.com has made posting scores a 30 second process! This video explains how simple it is to post all the scores from your event. You can post every event in seconds. Here are the requirements. First you must have an Event Organizers membership on HotAirBalloonist.com. This is easy to do, currently we are offering a FREE Event Organizers membership for a FULL YEAR to anyone who would like to post scores. Second, we would like for you to post a link to the "Event Scores" forum on your events website. Last, If your event is not on our Events Calendar please take a moment and post it. You can post event dates, details, contact information and MORE. Once your event is posted on the HotAirBalloonist.com calendar it will also appear on the Member Map. All you need to do is send us an email. Let us know the name and the email of the person you would like to have permission to post scores. That is it! Email us at Info@HotAirBalloonist.com Take a moment to download and watch this video on how easy posting your event scores can be. Thank you for all you do for the balloon world. Jeff A Thompson. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

View File Balloon Event Scores There are many pilots all over the country interested in the scores from balloon events. Many events have websites that just do not allow you to post easily the scores form your competition event. HotAirBalloonist.com has made posting scores a 30 second process! This video explains how simple it is to post all the scores from your event. You can post every event in seconds. Here are the requirements. First you must have an Event Organizers membership on HotAirBalloonist.com. This is easy to do, currently we are offering a FREE Event Organizers membership for a FULL YEAR to anyone who would like to post scores. Second, we would like for you to post a link to the "Event Scores" forum on your events website. Last, If your event is not on our Events Calendar please take a moment and post it. You can post event dates, details, contact information and MORE. Once your event is posted on the HotAirBalloonist.com calendar it will also appear on the Member Map. All you need to do is send us an email. Let us know the name and the email of the person you would like to have permission to post scores. That is it! Email us at Info@HotAirBalloonist.com Take a moment to download and watch this video on how easy posting your event scores can be. Thank you for all you do for the balloon world. Jeff A Thompson. Submitter hotairballoonist Submitted 06/21/2021 Category Video Tutorials