Show Park City High Music Teacher Professional Hot-Air Hot Balloonist Gives Demonstration 4 x w 4 fr w M o q k 4 I The cubic foot capacity hot air balloon is beginning to bellow with the hot air produced by a propane gas gal burner bUTner there may be if higher altitudes A balloonist must always plan at least one minute ahead during the entire trip He must bealert be bealert bealert alert to any sudden changes of t temperatures e m per at u res and air currents ts When on a free flight he is followed by a chase truck which carries n necessary e c e s sa r y supplies and is the means of land transportation at the termination termination termination term term- of the balloon flight Therefore f flights 1 i g h t s must be planned as much as possible so the truck can travel along accessible terrain A hot-air hot balloon is a hazard hazard- ous method of travel Control is none when going horizontal the vertical rise is controllable After some four years of experience experience ex ex- Mr Clark can relate some close calls On a flight in Reno Nevada during the 1964 National Air Ra es s he lie had an adventure which he does not want to repeat He was making his descent after a very successful flight over Reno but just before getting solidly on the ground a sudden wind came up He and the balloon were dragged across the air field blown up the side of a mountain mountain moun moun- tam tain hitting large boulders as the balloon and basket bounced up and down The basket was damaged and he was bruised all allover over his body If he had hadnot hadnot hadnot not been wearing a crash helmet he would have received a fatal blow on the left side of his head The outer surface of the helmet smashed against a rock which damaged the helmets helmet's protective surface with a radius of three inches of cracked surface surface surface sur sur- face around a quarter of an inch dent Gary Clarks Clark's wife Vicki is also a balloonist They have Deell over a year Being the only balloonist in Utah Mr Clark is finding his sensational balloon a good business business bustness busi bust ness venture Recently a family company was formed with the name of Clark Balloon Advertising Advertising Advertising Adver Adver- Inc and has a contract with the A R Meat Company to do publicity and promotional flights for them He rents the smaller balloon for hourly and daily flights nights The real kick in the balloon business is not the aerial flight but the enjoyment of speaking with people about the balloon and the business contacts he is making in this unique venture |