Hot air balloon flight raises funds for cancer

The Chillicothe Municipal Airport in Missouri, USA was host to a hot air balloon liftoff Saturday morning.

Tim Cloyd, of TEC Visions out of Runnells, Iowa, launched his 120,000 cubic-foot hot air balloon, “Glorious Drifter,” for his second annual Extreme Flight to Find a Cure at 7:41 a.m. Cloyd said he got the idea to begin doing long-distance high-altitude hot air balloon rides for charity after he did a few for fun; his first long-distance flight was 110 miles in 2010. He did two more long-distance flights, traveling 117 miles in 2011 and 238 miles in 2012.

“I thought, ‘let’s do it for a reason and a cause,'” Cloyd said. “Cancer affects everyone in one way or another, so I contacted the American Cancer Society and I’ve been a partner ever since.”

The first Extreme Flight to Find a Cure took place on Jan. 26, 2013, raising more than $9,000 for ACS. Cloyd took off from Des Moines, Iowa, and landed 155 miles away near Macomb, Ill. This second annual flight raised more than $5,000, with Cloyd taking off from Chillicothe and landing 167 miles away near Mount Sterling, Ill. Cloyd said this flight was the longest time he’s ever flown, lasting six hours. His top speed on this flight was 59 mph, and his top altitude was 11,000 feet.

When preparing for long distance flights like this, he has to pack extra necessities such as warm clothing, food, water, oxygen and a restroom.

“There’s no rest area to stop up there. There’s no pit stops, there’s no time-outs. You have to be with it the whole time as the pilot.”

Cloyd said that both fuel levels and terrain help to predict when he will land. If he is running low on fuel, and if there is a long stretch of forest or a large city coming up that he does not think he will be able to pass over, he will pick a spot to land outside of those areas.

He also said he carries a radio and a tracking device so that followers may track his flight progress on the website. He will radio down updates to crew members, who will keep his followers updated.

Cloyd first became interested in flying hot air balloons through his wife’s cousin. He was a crew member for him for several years, and became a licensed hot air balloon pilot in 2007. Cloyd said he typically flies 80 hours per year, whereas typical pilots fly around 30 per year.

“It’s addictive,” Cloyd said.

Tim and wife, Elsie Cloyd, are the founders of TEC Visions, a 501c3 non-profit organization. They do missionary work, including mission trips, donating to people in need, providing school supplies to local schools and helping various outreach programs. According to their website, tecvisions.org, “Our ministry is guided by the Lord. We help those in need all around the world.” Cloyd said he began to incorporate hot air balloon rides as part of the TEC Visions missionary work because it was an additional way to help raise funds for the organization so that they could help people in need. He offers hot air balloon rides for special occasions, and a portion of the money raised from those events goes toward TEC Visions funds.

Cloyd said he thinks people find his Extreme Flight to Find a Cure important because cancer is something that affects many people.

“It brings awareness to the cause,” Cloyd added. “This is the only long distance high altitude balloon flight for any charity, that I’ve found, that’s ever been done. What it does is bring awareness to the cause and, hopefully, raise money for the cause.”

For the next Extreme Flight to Find a Cure, Cloyd said he is working with the ACS to raise more money and will hopefully fly names of people who have battled or are currently battling cancer. He said he plans to keep it to one flight per year, and it will always be in the winter months due to the cold temperatures requiring less fuel to fly.

“I’m looking forward to flying next year,” Cloyd said.

For more information on TEC Visions and the Extreme Flight to Find a Cure, visit www.tecvisions.org.

via – Chillicothe News