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February 15-18, 2006 - Adventure of the Heart sets two World Records
Team members at the command center:
) Joanne Ragle, command center coordinator, getting updates from the crew |
) Tom Peterson, web master, updating the flight tracking map on the web site |
Pictorial Story of the Flight
) Rich and crew (from left to right) daughter Jane Jaworski, Pat Ragle and Matthew Grote ready to leave Blair for Bismarck |
) On the road north, Rich in high spirits |
) Crew checking equipment in Bismarck, N.D. |
) Rich on phone deciding what to do now |
) (l to r) Matthew, Rich, 2 neighbors in the background, Duane, Orv, Jane and Pat putting balloon together in Bismarck |
) (l to r) Duane Waack, Matthew Grote, Rich, Orv Olivier, Jane Jaworski and Pat Ragle posing for a group picture |
) Rich's kids Jane and Steve busy at work back in Blair, NE |
) Rich getting help unloading the trailer |
) Pat Ragle doing propane leak tests as Matthew Grote straightening the envelope while Jane looks on |
) Rich getting air time on TV |
) Match on a stick putting heat to envelope controlled by Pat and Orv (not pictured) while Rich looks on |
) Checking the lines |
) Jane trying to figure out how to get up and retie a line |
) More line tying by Steve |
) Jane gets a boost up by the crew to retie a line |
) Crew does final checks before lift off |
) Flight box (like a black box...records the flight) |
) Rich's burner lighting up the night sky |
) Crossing the Missouri River |
) Better to fly over that bridge then drive over it |
) Beauty between the trees |
) Coming in for landing |
) Descending... |
) Time to land |
) The time clock reads 13 hours 13 minutes 2 seconds |
) Rich relieved to be down |
) Rich tangled in the lines upon landing |
) Check out his smile! |
) Rich and Jane laughing and crying |
) Jane tackles Dad |
) Two happy campers |
) Little bump on the head from the burner while landing |
) Crew and passers-by congratulate Rich on his success. (l-r) Sean Kelly, Sean's friend Tom, Wayne Mohring, Rich, Jane, Pat, and Matthew |
) Wayne, Sean, Rich, Pat and Matthew |
) Crew poses for picture |
) Celebrating 13 hours 13 minutes 2 seconds in the air and a successful landing, (l-r) Matthew, Pam, Jane, Wayne, Sean (behind Rich), and Pat welcome Rich to Missouri |
) Rich with observer Pam James of Lincoln, NE |
) Crew packing up the balloon |
) An elated Rich heads home |
) Celebration back at the command center. (in front) Matthew and Jane. (Back) Pam, Pat, Tom Peterson (web master) and Joanne Ragle (command center coordinator) give Rich a congratulatory kiss as Wayne looks on. Very back, Tom and Sean |
January 7, 2006 - The Adventure Continues . . .
) Attaching the AHA banner to Adventure of the Heart in preparation for the photo op/tether |
) Adventure of the Heart proudly displaying the American Heart Association banner |
) As the hot inflation begins, Adventure is illuminated from within. Rich is strapped in to the harness, while Pat and Sean maneuver the inflation burner |
) Rich Jaworski suspended in Adventure of the Heart's flight harness. During the actual flight, Rich will also be enclosed in a sleeping bag as additional protection against sub-zero temperatures |
) This will be Rich's view of Adventure's instrument pack during the flight |
) What's behind me? A lack of turning vents, and not being able to see when flying "backwards" were concerns for Rich during the first flight. Here, Rich checks the view of the horizon behind him in a burner-mounted mirror |
) We're all behind you, Rich. Just a few of the many support crew backing up Rich Jaworski and Adventure of the Heart, reflected in the mirror |
) Rich Jaworski, aloft in Adventure. One of Rich's objectives for Adventure of the Heart is to promote the American Heart Association and their "Learn and Live" campaign |
) Adventure of the Heart at Lake Zorinsky, Omaha, NE, Jan. 7, 2006 |
December 17, 2005 - Adventure of the Heart's First Flight
) Inflating Adventure - December 17, 2005 |
) Rich and crew ready for Adventure's first free flight at Blair, NE |
) A 'burner's eye view' as Rich brings Adventure to equilibrium temperature |
) Adventure slips the surly bonds of Earth. Rich Jaworski lifts off in Adventure of Heart's first free flight |
) Adventure in flight. Who is that jolly man in the red suit and where did the reindeer go? |
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) Landing - Adventure lands after a successful 2 hr 55 min, 44 mile flight |
) Rich Jaworski and the Adventure recovery crew |
Preparing for Adventure...
) Jaworski finds out that, 'at 40 below in the ice cream freezer, goggles do fog over! A snowmobile helmet has replaced the goggles.' Norfolk, NE, Nov. 18, 2005 |
) Dec. 4, 2005, Adventure of the Heart's first inflation in the Sports Dome, Flint, MI |
) Pat Ragle tests the auxilliary inflation burner. Omaha, NE, Dec. 12, 2005 |
) Hot inflation during first (tethered) flight test of Adventure of the Heart |
) Preparing Adventure for her first (tethered) flight test |
) Rich Jaworski performs final burner check before lift-off |
) Adventure in (tethered) flight! First flight of a balloon of this design in the state of Nebraska. Dec. 12, 2005 |
) Post-flight Shrimp Fest. Air temperature: 29°F and dropping...Pictured (l to r): Jim Gunhus, Cole Skiba, Tom Peterson, Patrick Ragle, Joanne Ragle, Rich Jaworski, Glenda Skiba, Jeff Reid. Not pictured, Rob Skiba (photographer) |
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Last updated 2:47 PM 2/17/2007. Copyright © 2005, 2006. Send email to:
Richard L. Jaworski
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