Posted on 06/10/2002 10:33:50 AM PDT by abner
Taking to the skies with a patriotic message
By Fran Odynie, Tri County Editor June 10, 2002
LUDWIGS CORNER- Barry and his wife Teri DiLibero share a passion for ballooning that is only surpassed by their passion for the Constitution of the United States.
"I want kids growing up knowing about the Constitution and why they can do whatever they want," says Teri with patriotic enthusiasm.
"We're finding people know very little about how our country works," says Barry in a more subdued and concerned tone. "Most people don't know the Constitution."
So they decided that a solution to the problem they term apathetic lies in the "beautiful and spacious skies" overhead. They also operate a hot air balloon ride company called Aapex Sunrides based just south of the intersection of routes 100 and 401 in the Ludwig's Corner area of Chester County.
It wasn't long after September 11 that they had placed an order with AeroMagic, a balloon manufacturer in Sao Paulo, Brazil for not just a balloon but a balloon made in the shape of a U.S. flag. On a recent cool and clear Wednesday evening, the stage was set for Old Glory's maiden flight.
As a crew of seven wrestled to keep the balloon on the ground during final preparations, Barry, a licensed pilot, laughed, "It wants to go!" With himself and his two passengers on board, he ordered the crew to release the balloon's crown line and drop line, and shouted, "We are free!"
The balloon lurched a bit then began to majestically rise above the launch site for its first-ever flight into the skies over Ludwig's Corner to the applause from the crew and well-wishers gathered on the ground.
With the wind coming from the northwest that evening, the flag balloon was pushed on a northeasterly course headed for the Phoenixville-Kimberton area at an average speed of six knots.
Impressive and imposing, the flag balloon measures 78 feet long, 53 feet high, and 29 feet wide and contains 124,000 cubic feet of air that is heated up to temperatures of 202 degrees by propane that Barry lets out in jets of shimmering flame from an overhead burner connected to two propane tanks in the basket. The propane heats the air in the balloon, which creates and maintains lift. Thus, there is no doubting the maxim: Hot air rises.
Other than an occasional exhilarating comment from a passenger and the powerful jet-like sound periodically emitted by the propane burner, a calming silence and a sense of wonder filled the basket. Far to the east, the skyscrapers of downtown Philadelphia resembled towers of the Emerald City of Oz while to the west, the towers of the Limerick nuclear generating station loomed on the landscape.
Under the flag, the ridges, hollows, valleys, hills, ponds, streams, and forests of Chester County passed in an unending panorama of beauty and solitude. As the balloon sailed on toward Phoenixville, it was attracting attention from people on the ground. Teri, following the flight of the flag in one of four pursuit vehicles on the ground, reported to the balloon via radio, "People stopping and getting on their cell phones."
From the air, the flag's pilot and passengers observed people coming out of their homes looking up in amazement and waving as the balloon passed over. While horses spooked, cows became entranced with the sight and stretched their necks to follow the balloon as it passed over a meadow.
After a one-hour flight that provided an I-Max view of Chester County, Barry brought the flag balloon down just off a fairway on the balloon-landing-friendly Kimberton Golf Course.
Referring to the design of the flag balloon as a sail, Barry explained that unlike a round balloon, the flag balloon will pick up a lot of wind. "We fly with the wind, while a round balloon slips through the air," he said.
Both he and Teri emphasized that the idea behind the flag balloon was strictly patriotic. "We didn't do it for the money," said Barry. "I'll fly it just to have people look at it and talk about it."
With the flag balloon as a catalyst, Barry and Teri want to help focus people on the Constitution and to better understand it. Their plans call for "flying the flag" at a number of balloon rallies along the east coast this summer. They also want to distribute pocket copies of the Constitution to any and all people whom they meet during these rallies.
"We'll see a million people with our balloon rally schedule," said Barry. "Enough people don't know enough about our country, and most people don't know about the Constitution."
"People have to know how we got here," added Teri, a self-professed student of politics from Minnesota, "and why they can do what they want to do. And what it means when these things are taken away."
Barry and Teri have been approaching a number of companies in the hope of finding corporate support for their pocket constitution project, or, as Teri said, "if they supply us with the copies, we'll give 'em out."
Thus far, there has been positive reaction to their plans, and Barry and Teri hope the reaction soon turns into a "constitutional" commitment or two. "It's a matter of national pride," he proclaims.
For more information on the U.S. flag balloon and the Pocket Constitution Project click on http://www.usflagballoon.com/about.htm; or call Aapex Sunrides at 610-458-7050.
Fantastic coverage of your maiden flight, hope you keep getting coverage...
What did the sheep(le) do? hehehehe.
Nice truck, nice Balloon....headed to Albuquerque someday?
The Lincoln Tunnel should be interesting.
Hey, could you post a reminder? I'd love to watch you!!
Do you think they'd let you wear a FreeRepublic.com hat or something?? (or have it in your pocket and slip it on when the camera's are rolling!!) Great exposure for our gracious host!! ;o)
I wish. We will be lucky to wear our flag balloon stuff from the sounds of it. The sponsor is PNC Bank and what they want is what they get. We didn't get the sponsor, the balloon rally organizer did. They want Barry to wear their hat. Barry in a hat- it doesn't work. Oh well, they will see that soon enough I guess.
BUMP!!
Wish I could find someone to paint my elderly motorhome like that!
We also did a 16' trailer to match. I just have to stop doing my regular job to apply the stars and the rest of the graphics.
Really, to do that paint job, it's not that tough it is just time consuming and like any paint work, preparation is key.
I will post pics of the trailer when I get it done.
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