European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Magazine Riding the High wind Story and photos by Leah Larkin features editor a Indre Graff was elated. The Weatherwas Wilh him co d but Clear As a per dec Diamond ii was a Day made or lying. In kind of Day that made him anxious to Lupin a balloon and float above the world graf29, has been a hot air balloon Pilot Tor four years he and other lans of the sport formed / association balloons d Alsace several years ago in Sun ser France. Last summer they finally raised enough Money to buy their own balloon the Alsace which Dibsy now use to Ahe passengers for flights of fantasy Over this Pogron of northeastern France. You never know where you will land. That s ballooning. Today there s a Little wind. It will be a sporty ride to said. Four of us were soon to join him bul if we and even to had known then just How sporty that ride would turn of to be. We Era girl have s played on f he ground preparations began. Graft and his friends lugged and lugged reams of cloth and heavy paraphernalia out of their beat up Toyota land Cruiser. They loaded the tanks o liquid propane into the balloon s Wicker Basket then unrolled the red and yellow fabric thai was about to come to tile. Graff looking every Inch a balloon St in his red jump suit decorated with ballooning pins sent up a helium balloon to test the direction of the wind we watched in soar and disappear. It was time for fire. The balloon burners were turned on they roared with Power spewing out Gigantc. Hissing flames that healed the air inside the balloon. The Fla lifeless fabric began to move to Rippe Ihen to swell and grow. It took form leaving its resting place on the ground to Eland Lall. Swaying Nier Rily Back and Forth with the breezes. The moment of truth had come. We climbed into the Basket with Graff our adventure was in we scr when the air to less dense than in warmer months so he was Able so take tour passengers. In summer three passengers is maximum. Graft had been on hundreds of these magical in Eslery Tours but he was so exuberant to might Havo been his firs. Each flight is Dilke enl. You never Hove tie same conditions. That s the real he said. A balloon s Delmy 13 Wollon on the wind the Pilot can use the powerful burners to heat the air to make the balloon Rise or Tarn the burners off let the air Cool and the balloon descend but Only Hie wind will make rite balloon move in any to Ion Al direction thai As we were to learn can make Lor interesting rides. A Small crowd gathered at the Edge of the Field to watch our Takeoff soon we were airborne waving to them floating lazily on top of the world a Nde in a balloon is pure storybook you led like Alice in wonderland and Dorothy in 0 there you Aie Drifting above the of pelops and roofs the cows and the cars. When the balloon burners Are turned off n s still. An amazing quiet that lets you hear Ihn dogs Barking the Birds chirping. The Church belly chiming in the people la Lomg Fjon Jour Madame Simon grail Cal cd out As v e skimmed the red rooftop of Madame 5 House she waved out the window her h
