Colin Graham

These two 'works' no longer exist. I no longer do very much flight simming. I've had the privilege of being able to fly over some of the most beautiful terrain in the world, in real life with my friends Galen Hansellman, Matt Paxton and David Neese.

I own and fly my hot air balloon, "Forever Endeavor" (N-50125) and have done so for about three years. Before that I crewed for other balloonists and also flew gliders for about a year, accumulating about 8 hours of flight-time (in gliders). I bought my balloon, which is manufactured from Aerostar International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; its FAI class is an AX-8. It holds 90,000 cubic feet when inflated. This balloon can hold myself, and three passengers on a typical flight.

After 14 hours of instruction from various commercial pilots throughout the area I soloed on April 22nd 2001. It was absolutely exhilarating. I know, there are some out there that say you do not "pilot" a balloon...you "ride" a balloon. But anyone saying this is pretty stupid because they sure as hell haven't been up in one. Ballooning is a very difficult way to fly, in that you have no directional control except where the wind takes you. You get where "you want to" by using the burner to go up and down, through different wind layers. Many do not know that balloons are FAA registered aircraft and their pilots hold either a private or commercial rating--to get a balloon license is the same as getting an airplane license.

I passed my private pilot check ride on April 19th, 2002.

Shortly after passing my check ride I did a 2 month road trip out west. I put my balloon away and left Virginia on May 10th. I drove all the way across the country by myself, I visited Leadville, Colorado and the nations highest public airport, 9,927 feet. It's really beautiful there. I also visited Rocky Mountain National Park where I peaked out at 12,100 foot elevation! I lived in the small town of Driggs, Idaho for two weeks. On a side trip, I went over to central Idaho to do some flying with my friend in the back-country, which has always been a dream of mine...We flew along some of the most awesome places one man can see...Namely, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. There are over 20 airstrips right in this region, they are also some of the most challenging.

I've found so many options outside of flying on the simulator that I no longer find it interesting. Once in awhile I'll say "ooh, I want to see what that looks like!"...and go check it out.

In October of 2002, I left on one last "important" road trip to New Mexico. On the 31st of October, I became a Commercial Balloon Pilot enabling me to fly commercially as well as instruct students. The commercial certificate for balloons and gliders allows the pilot to instruct as part of the privileges.

At age 19, I've had the fantastic ability to travel through 42 states of our great nation. I have a sub-goal to go to all 50 states between now and my 20th birthday in May 2003. We'll see, Alaska and Hawaii are going to be real hard ones!

As of November 2002, I've started my ballooning business "Endeavors Ballooning Limited", out of my parents house in Western Virginia. I'm offering rides, promotional tethers and aerial advertising. It's been a long time dream of mine to do what I'm doing today, I am blessed.

On another note, I have to tell you about how I've gotten where I am today... So many people tried to put me down and tell me I didn't know anything and couldn't do one thing or another. Let me tell you guys something, Don't ever let someone tell you that or let them pound it into your head...I am not some rich kid who has a daddy to buy me everything, I personally fund everything I do within good reason. Everyone...EVERYONE has the exact same chances of doing something extraordinary in life..it all depends on what you want out of life...

Hope to see you in the real skies sometime in lifes remarkable journey...

Colin M. Graham
balloonthetetons@yahoo.com
Carolinas Balloon Association