2010-07-04 – Halo on the Clouds – Mildura – VH-BLQ (77)

This was my first flight with Pete Wright (my other instructor) and included a climb to 4,000′ AGL where we found ourselves above a thin layer of stratus, seeing our shadow on the cloud with a rainbow halo around the basket.

I was at Mildura as part of the Australian Ballooning Federation’s “The Lake 2010” event

Here’s my notes from the flight:

• Intensity has stepped up as Pete’s working me towards a commercial level
• “Fun” intro is over – it’s time to get serious
• Pete has a different style to Paul so I’m changing to “step up”
• Pibal on launch & use of compass to compare goals to wind direction
• Pete’s “Top to Bottom” flow checklist / walkthrough
• Building a 3D view of environment & awareness of other balloons
• Setup & rigging of balloon & way to stand & hold ropes (plus getting them out of the way of pax)
• Also consideration of instrument positioning WRT pax
• My first inflation with Pete observing & guiding
  • Short burns
  • Position of flame
  • Wait & see how it reacts – let fan help
  • Watch for fabric stretching out
• Climb up to get winds
• “The voice” is still an issue but am pushing it back & focusing on the flight
• Getting used to working the valve & burners
• Descent & intermediate landing in a clearing
• Discussion on the ground about landing & considerations for take off
• Take off & ascent to about 4,000′ AGL to see what winds were doing above a thin layer of stratus cloud
• Got to see shadow of balloon on cloud below with a halo around the basket – wow
• Didn’t find the direction we wanted so came back down, skimmed trees & worked with what we had to get into a dirt patch between what seemed to be sown crops
• Terminal descent again – 1,000fpm at one point – even more wow!
• Getting the hang of descending towards that big, hard ground below is going to be “interesting” (& essential :)

Click here to view my log book entry at JetRecord.com