Student Hot Air Balloonists Attend Camp in the Cordele-Vienna area

Photo byKim McKinney

Twenty-six students, from ages 13 through 17, are in the area this week to attend a hot air balloon camp sponsored by the Balloon Federation of America (BFA).

Local balloon pilot Ben Drennan, who learned to fly hot air balloons when he was a teen, has been a strong advocate for this program and was instrumental in bringing the camp to this area.

Drennan says, "This camp fills a need that was not there when I was a student and it feels good to pay it forward for the next generation of students."

The students have come from twelve states - Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Mexico, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Michigan, Texas, Vermont, and Kentucky. Some are from families that have been involved in hot air ballooning their whole lives, while others are getting their first experience learning about the sport.

Camp director Duncan Dunavent said the Cordele-Vienna area has been very hospitable to the campers.

The Vienna Fire Department hosted the students for fire extinguisher training. They did a training class, then let several of the students who had never used a fire extinguisher use one to put out a fire.

Photo byKim McKinney

The group flew from the Crisp Country-Cordele Airport. Balloons don't often fly in and out of airports as airplanes do, but the facility provided a perfect place for the student pilots to prepare the balloons for flight, take off, and practice landings and take-off.

Photo byKim McKinney

All twenty-six student pilots flew with thirteen commercial pilots, including Drennan and Tom Warren from Aviation Ranch in Cordele, but also other pilots who came from around the country to volunteer to help train the students.

The flight of thirteen balloons with students is the most balloons that have flown students at one time in the history of the BFA camps.

The camp is a mix of classroom time, practical training, and fun activities that reinforce skills, safety, creative thinking, and teamwork.

Dunavent said, "I attended camps growing up and they were instrumental in my growth as a pilot. Now they are a way I can give back to the ballooning community."

The BFA is a 501c3 non-profit association dedicated to advance the sport and science of lighter-than-air aviation. The association was founded in 1961, and membership is open to anyone who shares a fascination with Lighter Than Air flight.