Ballooning in CAP

[davedove]

I know from the regs that there are Balloon wings, but what sort of ballooning activities are there in CAP?

[Chris Jacobs]

I have never heard of any one going ballooning in CAP.  But that would make a great activity.

[Matt]

I belive, and Eclipse will probably know more; Illinois actually has a Balloon encampment yearly.

[FARRIER]

Resurrection time:

      The original question to this post:

     "...but what sort of ballooning activities are there in CAP?"

Its been a few years, any new information? Has anyone used ballooning as part of their aerospace education program?

Respectfully,

[sparks]

Balloon flights usually are offered as part of Illinois Wing's Johnson Flight Encampment at Mattoon IL.

[nesagsar]

Balloon flights usually are offered as part of Illinois Wing's Johnson Flight Encampment at Mattoon IL.

This is true. I earned Glider pre-solo several years back at this activity. At the time there were approx 8 cadets in the Balloon flight. Glider had 20 and Powered had about 36.

[Thrashed]

We did a ballon activity a couple months ago.  BBQ & balloning.  Cadets wrote aerospace/ballon essays to win a ballon ride. The rest worked as ground crew.

[CadetProgramGuy]

Believe it or not (Sorry, I'm not walking on air....)  CAP actually owns 2 balloons.  One was damaged a few years back returning from New Mexico.

As to the state of the balloons in CAP, I dunno.  Illinois Wing has one for sure tho.  If you want it, go through the wing DO, then the Wing CC.

[Eclipse]

Yes, ILWG has an operational balloon and offers training each year at Johnson Flight Academy.

Beyond that it is occasionally (rarely) used for static displays, and a couple of annual balloon activities (there is one where they
all light up at night, but remain tethered).

You'll see the basket at airshows more than the balloon because the display requirements are pretty strict and it is usually too windy to have it inflated.

[Al Sayre]

MS Wing also has an operational balloon.  We've been using it at various balloon festivals and events, and a couple of airshows.  Got a nice long ride in it myself about a month ago...

[mdickinson]

Also worth mentioning: there's nothing preventing a CAP balloon pilot from taking CAP cadets and seniors for rides in his/her member-owned balloon.  I gave rides (tethered) to several CAP members in my balloon about ten years ago.

It can be difficult to get permission to do this, since 60-1 doesn't give any guidance about ballooning. (It used to say only that it was up to individual wings to set their own ballooning policies, but now the word "balloon" doesn't even appear in 60-1.)

Serving on a balloon crew is a great way for cadets and seniors alike to learn more about lighter-than-air flight, and crewing doesn't cost a penny. (It just requires that you get up an hour before sunrise.)