.......
		Wait -A slide show should start.
After repairs, Teijin "performed"at Sydney's Royal Easter Show in March 1967. Tethering was a problem in the wind, balloon and gondola leaned at an alarming angle.   Performances were usually requested in the afternoon. That's when the wind was usually the strongest.    We had to decide whether to risk the balloon and ourselves, to earn much needed money for the group. It was at this time that the author of this website joined the group.After the Easter Show, it was time for more free flights again at Canowindra.  Ken Bath, (who introduced me to the group) was a parachute instructor, and we were the only experienced parachutists. We were curious to see if parachuting created any unusual problems.            On the first flight, the plan was for Ken and I to jump together. We were equipped with cameras on our helmets to record the event. However, the balloon struggled, and could not lift both us and the crew, so I reluctantly stayed behind.
Even with the burner flat out, it climbed very slowly into the air, and had just passed 2000 ft when Ken jumped.     There was a heavy 200ft long drag rope hanging below the gondola, (visible here), and Ken was dangerously close to it as he fell. He had to clear it before opening his parachute. The balloon landed without incident.On the next day, I then had my second flight in a balloon.