Early Hot Air Ballooning in Australia





This is intended to be a history, covering the early days of hot-air ballooning in Australia. It has gradually grown to cover other aviation areas. It begins around 1962, with the first hot-air flight after a break of over forty years, and the formation of the Aerostat Society of Australia. There are about 146 pictures. Around 1967, parachuting introduced me to Ballooning and the Aerostat Society. After Terry McCormack resigned, I ran the club for about a year. A hang gliding accident left me in a wheelchair since 1981. Now retired, it gives me time for Story Writing & Watercolours. In 1962, a group of students experimented with hot air balloons & formed the Aerostat Society of Australia. 70 pictures cover the building & flying of tiny Archimedes, and the dramatic end of the giant Teijin, the crew bailing out before it's spectacular crash at Canowindra. How Rockets Fly- The German V2, Apollo Moon Project, Russian Soyuz, Space Shuttle. History & Theory of Winged Aircraft, Wings,Propellors,Engines,Helicopters. History & Theory of Balloons,Airships. Suitable Gases .... 40 pictures Websites of interest to the Balloon or Airship Enthusiast. Would you like to go on a balloon flight in another State of Australia, or in NZ, Europe, Turkey or the UK ? Want to meet up with balloonists, perhaps join a group, and get some basic training ? The British R100 and R101 were built at Cardington, near Bedford in 1929. The author visited Cardington in 1971, to view launch of Goodyears "Europa" I had a 2nd visit to a changed Cardington in 2001 to see the revolutionary "SkyCat" in development.... 40 pictures
		The Aerostat Society was virtually re-built, and we used Archimedes to generate funds to build EGO, a larger film balloon. This section has 54 photos covering the construction, flying, and various dramas. The "Skippy Kangaroo" episode. Details on parachuting, membership, Teijin and more. I've enclosed a few of my Short Stories. and A few samples of my Watercolours.