WrightBrothers Master Pilot Acceptance SpeechRich Jaworski – April 15, 2023 – NBC Meeting led by Robb Johnson – Introduction of FAA presenter – Mark Gaffney – FSDO by Robb Johnson – Presentation of Wright Brothers Award to Rich J. ( included a summary of Rich’s achievements and a 20-minute documentary video on the Wright Brothers. ) – Acceptance Speech by Rich – Paula and I have shared the last 56 years, she has earned being recognized today too. She has sacrificed more than me to be here today. – My thanks goes to the NBC and Robb Johnson for making arrangements for today’s NBC Meeting. Thanks to all of you here for coming and being a part of the Nebraska Balloon Club. – I feel that without the Nebraska Balloon Club, I would not be receiving this Wright Brothers award today. – Today’s celebration primarily recognize the accomplishments of the Nebraska Balloon Club – – This celebration is not a recognition my achievements. – This celebration is a celebration of the NBC’s success, its programs, events, and member activities which made this award today possible. – My personal accomplishments have only happened because of the friendships and affiliations of the NBC membership, and I want to thank each and all of you for being there when I needed help, encouragement, crew, or advice. – As I stand on the edge of retirement from your community, I hope that members realize the importance of the Nebraska Balloon Club to the accomplishments of others and the advancement of ballooning.

– Therefore, it is fitting to summarize the nearly 50 years of NBC history and NBC’s culture. – In the beginning, i.e. in the early 70’s, before balloonists took residence in the Omaha area, there were rare visits to the area by traveling pilots from Iowa, Minnesota, and Texas with commercial contracts for single balloon ascensions from the Westroads or Crossroad Malls i.e., by Phil Grey from Indianola, and Matt Wiederkehr, from Minneapolis. – Between 1971 and 1975 Cook, Mahoney, Elsasser, and Jaworski purchased balloons and flew Omaha for their own pleasure or demonstrations promoting their business. Meanwhile while, Kennedy and Woldt were flying in Broken Bow and Columbus Not far from Omaha, the Indianola balloonists developed around the annual BFA championship event. – In 1974(?) at a local house party, Charlie Cook volunteered to publish a monthly newsletter and the Nebraska Balloon Club was informally initiated. – (KAABOOM – (Between 1975 and 1988) These founders were soon followed by 35 balloonists and serious crew. (In commemoration of these founders, Robb reads the membership’s names from faded tattered List} –who did I leave out that was here before ‘88? – By the mid-1980s and early ‘90s the NBC membership peaked at 15-20 balloons, holding monthly Club meetings, monthly and annual competition flights, even annual safety seminars. – The Club grew quickly, by inviting the public to membership, meetings, and flight events. – Recruiting crew was easy and the annual River City Roundup flights from Aksarben field opened the gates to more and more! – As equipment and operating costs rose in the early ‘2000s and as internet communication made commercial passenger flight opportunities more plentiful, the number of new Club members leveled off and began to decline. Also, participation by NBC pilots in week-end rallies affected the number of balloons and balloonists available for what had been regularly scheduled Club competitions, – In the late ‘2000s, Omaha’s ballooning fever resided and never fully returned. The “Up, Up, and Away” generation spent their income on other pursuits. – Omaha balloonist’s were attending nearby rallies. Club fights were too frequently not scheduled due to a lack of participants and organizers. – Presently there are six active NBC balloons, but Club activities, though minimal, are informally scheduled by individual pilots to support the social and flying activities, in addition to an annual winter banquet. – In preparation for today’s program, I have recommended that a historical document be prepared to record a living history and chronology of Club membership, major news, and activities. – There is no doubt that the NBC will continue as an organization and that a living historical document would be of value.
–
– Continuing With Comments On Rich’s Flying History – So much for Club history today, I’ll now move on to Rich’s balloon journey story. – My first crew experience was at age 12, 1954, at a cub-scout Circus As part of the show, my Dad organized a two weather balloon ascension from Aksarben Arena parking lot. With Dad and my brother on the crew, costumed as WWI dough-boys, we watched the balloons ascend across the Omaha night sky. That was the beginning which has taken me to many friendships, many adventures, and a great great ride! – In 1960 Ed Yost, via a US Navy Research Contact, re-invented the HAB and made a demonstration flight in Bruning, NE. – I first read about hot air balloons in a 1965 National Geographic article when there were 18 HAB in the US. – After college, I began, like many aspirants, by writing manufacturers for information, – I made presentations to civic clubs and organizations, as I looked for interest and funding. The price of starting up was $4,000 for the new balloon system (envelope, burner, and instruments), $600 for training, plus the cost of a trailer, insurance, and inflator fan. – After about a year of searching, I found Bill Wemhoff, a fellow engineer at the Fort Calhoun Station and my flight training began in July, 1972 in Muscatine, IA with Tom Oerman.

– Four months later, within a two-week period in October 1972, I completed the required six hours of instructed flight training, soloed, completed the FAA Check-ride flight in Indianola, and started flight training with my student and partner, Bill. – Imagine! Giving flight instruction with only 6 hours of flight experience on the instructor. (WOW!) – So began my fifty-years and it’s been a good ride!, Fifty- years of making friends, meeting people, and experiencing my adventures of the heart. Today I want to celebrate and give thanks to all of you for making it possible whether you held the mouth of the balloon open, retrieve errant scoring baggies out of a bean field, or had to wipe champagne off of you head after your maiden flight. My apologies if you didn’t get any champagne! Presentation Concludeswith Summary of Personally Significant Flights: O.K. – History lessonspeech is over. Let’s talk about the other stuff people reallywant to know about. – – My significant flight events and “whatreally happened” stories. Mark (FAA awardpresenter)– I’m going to be honest here with my friends and hopeyou won’t take back this nice trophy if you hear anythingincriminating. O.K? – My first story. – Fortunately, I was born and licensed just in time to meet the USA’s greatest ballooning asset. The” WWI American Balloon Corp -Veterans”. In 1974 they held their last Company Reunion and invited me to tether. These guys were all over 80 years old and became twenty again when the fan filled the envelope. – That was an easy story. Here’s my power line contact story. 1980 Burlington, IA ( Charred basket banner from the flight, burned by power contact was presented – ) – Now let’s talk about happier times? My first win in Indianola – 1989.. – My FAI Gold Sporting Badge Flight to 33,000 ft MSL. Yep – for a gold badge this guy went up there! – My ballooning 2014 vacation in Colorado ended with a flight across the Cont. Divide. – Final Story – Story of a successful start.