Steve Fossett
Northam more suitable than Kalgoorlie
On June 18th 2001, Chief Pilot and owner of Windward Balloon Adventures Damien Hays, and Crew Chief Leon Wachowski headed up to Kalgoorlie to witness the launch of Steve Fossett's solo flight around the world. Around midnight we received a phone call that the winds had died down and the inflation was scheduled to commence. A period of complete calmness of about four hours was required to inflate the balloon successfully. We met up with the launch team and offered them any assistance they might require. The inflation commenced, but about 30 minutes later the surface wind had started to blow again, and from the opposite direction to that which the balloon had been laid out. Suddenly it was all hands on the tether lines to try and keep the balloon stationary during this critical time. All hope was lost when a strong gust of wind caused lines to break and the balloon was torn as it dragged across its own capsule. The launch was off!
About one month later the balloon had been repaired and plans were being made for a second launch attempt from Kalgoorlie. With all of the excitement about ballooning in Kalgoorlie, the Kalgoorlie Tourism Association had chartered Windward's largest balloon "Rainbow Drifter" to fly some passengers over the town. So once again we headed east and did two successful flights over Kalgoorlie on July 23rd & 24th 2001. Damien quickly discovered whilst doing these flights that it can be quite calm up to about 100 feet high in Kalgoorlie but above that the winds were much stronger. Steve Fossett's balloon stands 180 feet tall so during its inflation it would need to sit above the calm layer on the surface, making it very vulnerable. Damien once again met up with Tim Cole, Steve's flight director and advised him of these windier conditions above 100 feet and suggested that they might consider launching the balloon from Northam instead, where balloons have been flying for over 30 years. Tim said they would consider Northam but had some options to explore in Kalgoorlie as well, like launching from a big mining pit that had been abandoned.
Three days later Damien had just landed his balloon after flying some passengers in Northam when his mobile phone rang. It was Steve Fossett's team calling to advise they were coming up to Northam to have a look! The team arrived later that day and after a look around Northam and the Avon Valley they quickly decided that this was the place they needed to be. All the equipment was packed onto a truck and by late the next day was all at the Northam Airfield ready to begin preparations for a launch attempt.
MORE TO COME SOON!