The Scoop - Connecticut Lighter Than Air Society

The Scoop
The Connecticut Lighter Than Air Society publishes this newsletter for its members and
interested parties. Portions of this newsletter may be reprinted if credit is given to the writer
and to CLAS. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the organization or
members of this organization (but if they are, they’ll be exceptionally good ones).
For more information contact Penny Christy 12 Blue Grass Rd., Middletown, Ct 06457
Phone (860) 857-8757 e-mail pmchristy@earthlink.net
Volume XIX, Issue 4
May 2006
Next CLAS MEETING: May 18, 2006 7:30 PM
Meetings are the Plainville Municipal building (Rte 372) next to the Police Station
Short Business then Educational Presentation: “Secrets of Connecticut”
Bruce Richardson, Earth Science Teacher
BS degree in Earth Science and Secondary Education, MS degree in Environmental Science, 6TH Year in
Secondary Administration All from Southern Connecticut State University, Science teacher at Cheshire High
School for 36 years. Retired in June of 2005.
Something most people don't know, is that Connecticut has had 3 separate volcanic eruptions which
produced more lava and at a faster rate than the great volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands.
Educational Meeting Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 7:30PM
CT Balloon Events
Balloons over Bristol May 19th – 21st (CANCELLED)
Plainville Balloon Festival August 25th – 27th
MA Balloon Events
Big Y 70th Anniversary at the Big E in (West Springfield) MA June 9th - 11th
Balloons over Sicily II
by Penny Christy (Photos by Penny, Madi, Ron, Sherry, Patsy, Ken)
A short recap…for those of you who hemmed and hawed about going to Sicily with Amedeo Mario DiStefano
TOO BAD FOR YOU!!! YOU STILL LOSE! Next year’s trips for 6 depart March 20 and April 3, 2007.
This trip was delightful, grand, spectacular, delicious and an immersion into the Sicilian culture with love!
An ancient Olive tree at the Valley of the Temples
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Sun low in the sky lighting the trees and Agrigento like a 17 century oil painting.
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Balloons over Sicily (Cont’d) The Hamilton Hotel staff were all considered family within a couple of
days. The first night we had a 7-course meal prepared just for us! Of course, we ate everything! It was so good!
Fresh, fresh, fresh! Our hotel prepared us the best food! This was our introduction to Sicily The next morning we
learned about Sicilian coffee.
The subject of coffee. There was no such thing as a mug of coffee in Sicily…that we found, anyway. We were
served espresso in about “1-ounce thimbles” with saucers to start until we got smart and asked for an
“Americano” cup. This was the same coffee in about a 6-ounce cup! It didn’t take long for the staff to figure out
that we liked coffee!! We had lots of fresh fruit and hot, freshly baked croissants every morning.
Another thing to get used to…. showers. Ours were about 2’ X 2’ with the challenge of not drenching the floor.
Sticking the wet shower curtain to both walls worked. The rest of the customary European fixtures were also
there.
A fisherman tries his luck on the Sciacca docks.
We wondered how the fruit on this tree tasted and decided against trying to find out.
Ron is giving a drink of water to our chaperone of this phenomenal temple in Selinute on the shore about 45 KM west of Sciacca. This temple
outlasted all the others through the earthquakes that reduced many of the other temples to rubble.
Here’s one of the two donkeys still in use by some older campagniolos in Grotte. Fresh vegetables come through
town on the back of a truck. We saw another truck with the paper goods in the back: toilet paper, paper towels,
Pampers, etc. and who knows what else! You just have to wait for the right “aisle of the store” (truck) to come to
you. The meat market was across the street from Madi’s cousin. Sicilian beef has been bled and is white like pork
chops. The third picture shows signs of earlier inhabitants in the sandstone of the surrounding hills. These caves
are east of Racamulto on our way to retrieve Madi on the first balloon flight from the market place in Grotte.
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Balloons over Sicily
(Cont’d)
One of the most exciting things we were anticipating was the flight
over the castle in Mussomeli especially since it was closed the first
time we went there. We drove up there fairly early in the morning and
tried out a few places to launch. We selected the most likely spot to
launch so the wind would carry us to the castle - and were heading
right for the castle, flew high above it … until we were heading
away. Contour flying has lots of surprises with the variations in
contours. We started taking a northern path away from our target.
Then the wind started pushing us up hill toward the castle and we
touched down in a pasture to the east. While we waited for the crew,
the wind shifted again and we rode it right to the base of the castle
and after the photo op, packed up.
Ballooning around the castle at Mussomeli affords a view from all directions.
We packed up the balloon and went up to the castle to tour the inside. A gentleman met us and escorted us up to
a big wooden door, which he opened with a huge skeleton key. This castle was a demonstration of extraordinary
artisans of the time. The stonework was beautiful. Some of the systems for handling all the animals and people
living there were fascinating. There was even a canopy bed in one of the bedrooms.
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Balloons over Sicily (Cont’d) This is not a restaurant. It is a bakery, a place to buy coffee and sweets.
They still cooked a multi-course lunch for us anyway. That’s the kind of people they are…warm and generous.
The next scene is of the town of Mussomeli as we drove away to the west.
Next Installment of Balloons over Sicily: in the June Scoop Erice and the white knuckled ride (for some).
2006 NE Balloon EVENTs PLACE CONTACT PHONE Website (if available)
Jun 4
2nd Annual Amherst Experimental Balloon, Cloudhopper & Airship Gathering Don Nachbar (413) 549-1321
registration@xlta.org http://www.xlta.org
Jun 2-4 3rd Annual Vermont Balloon & Music Festival at Essex Jct. VT Sally Mazzocchi, Caldwell, NJ (973) 882-5464
smazzocchi@balloonfestival.com http://balloonfestival.com
Jun 9-11 26th Annual Coors Light Balloon Fest, Syracuse NY jbeach@ongov.net http://onondagacountyparks.com/balloonfest
Jun 9-11 1st Big Y 70th Anniversary Balloon & Music Festival, Springfield, MA Sally Mazzocchi, Caldwell, NJ (973) 882-5464
smazzocchi@balloonfestival.com http://balloonfestival.com
Jun 16-18 Quechee Balloon Festival, Quechee, VT Bill Whidden (352) 253-0031 whids@juno.com
Jul 9
Hillsborough Balloon Fest, Hillsborough, NH hillsboroughballoonfest@tds.net www.balloonfestival.org
Jul 9
Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival Scott Baraw (802) 760-1049 INVITATION ONLY
Jul 14-15 19th Green River Festival, Greenfield, MA http://www.greenriverfestival.com/about.html
Jul 21-23 Great Wellsville Balloon Rally, Wellsville, NY, Jason Krug, 585-593-0080 kailey1@adelphia.net
http://www.wellsvilleballoonrally.com/
Jul 28-30 Quick Check NJ Festival of Ballooning, Readington, NJ Sally Mazzocchi, Caldwell, NJ (973) 882-5464
smazzocchi@balloonfestival.com http://balloonfestival.com
Aug 14th Great Falls Balloon Festival, Auburn, ME (800) 639-6331 www.greatfallsballoonfestival.com
Sep 1-4 NY State Festival of Balloons, Dansville, NY Gerri Waight Dansville, NY 585-335-9640 gerri@frontiernet.net
Sep 15-17 Adirondack Balloon Festival, Glens Falls, NY
Sep 16 Hollis Old Home Days, Honi Glover 603-465-2262
Sep 22-24 1st Annual High Hopes Fun Festival, Merrimack Dale Riley 603-673-4036
Oct. 7-15 Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, Albuquerque, NM
CREDITS: THE GRANITE STATE BALLOON ASSOCIATION and the BFA Website.
Tribute to Dr. Clayton Thomas Hosted by Bob Martel and Rudi Sachenbacher
By Jim Ellis
Photos by Arlene Osborne
Bob Martel, one of our newer balloon
pilots and balloon owners in New England,
hosted an event on Sunday March 26 in his
hometown of Marlborough, MA to honor Dr.
Clayton Thomas. Clayton is New England’s
senior balloon pilot, Designated Examiner, and
mentor to some of the safest balloonists in the
country. Bob’s invitation read “You are invited to
join us as we gather to informally honor and
thank Dr. Clayton Thomas for his involvement in
ballooning! A small get together has become a
mark of respect to a guy that has taught more
than 100 pilots how to fly!”
Dr. Clayton Thomas
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Dr. Clayton Thomas (Cont’d)
The approximately 50 balloonists in attendance included a cross-section of New England and
Northeastern U.S. balloonists. They included Bill Hughes, Adirondack Balloon Festival balloonmeister and
balloon ground school operator; Chris Mooney, one of New England’s few full time balloonists; Robert Waligunda,
surprisingly young looking considering he is credited with having taught Clayton to fly balloons; Bob Sommer and
Randy Riley, keepers of “Topper”, one of the oldest active balloons in the country; and two sets of husband and
wife balloonists, Tom and Arlene Osborne from New Hampshire and Susan Sparks and me from nearby Harvard,
MA.
Bob and co-host Rudi Sachenbacher and
Clayton’s wife Peggy did great job in making it a
surprise party. Clayton thought that he was going to
a Welsh Corgi dog event honoring his wife. When
he came in and initially saw Paul Stumpf, he said to
Paul “I didn’t know you were involved with dogs”.
The true nature of the event struck him as he looked
around the room and saw a room full of balloonists.
After everyone had an excellent dinner and dessert, Bob Martel introduced State Senator Pamela Resor,
who was there to present Dr. Thomas with a plaque and to announce that today was “Dr. Clayton Thomas Day” in
Massachusetts. She had obviously been well briefed on ballooning and Clayton’s background. She opened her
comments with jests about Clayton’s age, saying that he had been “Ace Chase for Thaddeus Lowe during the
Civil War”, and that he had been instrumental in assisting the French in breaking the siege of Paris in 1871 with
balloons. She said she had been told that he invented the “Pine Tree Slalom technique to steer a balloon in very
light winds.”
Bob Martel asked Clayton to tell everyone how he had gotten started in ballooning. Dr. Thomas jokingly
started with “Thank you and good night.” He also joked about his age (he will be 84 this year) saying that he
started reading obituaries around age 10, and that those said that people in their 80s were dying. He said “I
forget whether I’m 100 or 110”.
Dr. Thomas told stories about Bob Waligunda teaching him to fly a balloon. “In the olden days of
ballooning you had 8 hours of instruction for a balloon license. Most of it, all except for about and hour and 20
minutes, was on tether! He said his cross-country flying consisted of 20 minutes of free flying with Waligunda,
followed by an hour solo. He landed in a dense fog after making three attempts to land, including a landing over
power lines. He also told about a wild early flight which ended up with a landing near Central Park on Manhattan.
He took off from Long Island and flew across the Bronx. He said there were lots of police cars down under him,
but he didn’t realize that he was the reason! He said when he landed at a heliport there were 32 policemen there
and they threatened him with arrest (but didn’t follow through). With his usual wry humor, Clayton concluded his
storytelling with “I tell people it beats mowing the lawn!”
Bob Martel had invited balloonists to bring stories about Dr. Thomas, preferably humorous.
Chris Mooney led off with a story of dubious
authenticity about Dr. Thomas and the use of a
dropline, which Chris said can be very valuable to a
New England balloonist. He said that Clayton was
flying an evening flight from his home at Dingley
Dell. Nearing the end of a flight and nearing sunset
in nearly calm conditions over a pond, Dr. Thomas
was not heading for the boat ramp which was the
only possible landing spot by the pond. Dr. Thomas
saw a small boat, a dinghy with a small outboard
motor, in the center of the pond in his path.
He thought, “Maybe I can throw the boat a drop line.” He yelled down “Can you grab this line?” to the
elderly gentleman in the boat. The man grabbed it and wrapped it firmly around a cleat in the rear of the boat.
Just then a gust of wind hit the balloon, and Clayton had to pour in some heat. It lifted the boat out of the water,
Mooney related, with the little propeller spinning around and around in the air and the man hanging on for dear
life. Dr. Thomas cut the line and the boat with the man hanging on dropped back to the water. Fortunately, Doc
Thomas found a field just beyond the treeline at the edge of the pond and landed. After landing, he went back to
the boat ramp to find the elderly gentleman in the boat. Mooney related: “Doc Thomas just couldn’t convince the
elderly gentleman that he wasn’t trying to steal his boat!”
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Dr. Clayton Thomas (Cont’d)
Randy Riley related taking Topper to Dingley Dell for a checkride with Clayton, but when he got there
Clayton’s daughter Wendy told him “Go with Dad” in Clayton’s big balloon with paying passengers onboard.
Randy said that flying the unfamiliar balloon, he missed three possible landing spots and ended up in a landing
spot with sticks, broken branches, and thorn bushes. It required the assistance of a Kubota tractor to extricate the
balloon from the field. Randy passed. As Randy completed his tale, Clayton called out “On a scale of 1 to 10, he
flew about a minus 3!”
Bob Martel, who got both his private and commercial balloon licenses from Dr. Thomas in the last two
years, said Clayton relieved the tension by telling him on his first checkride “If you don’t kill me you have a good
chance of passing.”
I related how I first saw Dr. Thomas when I was
completely new to ballooning and my then new
girlfriend Susan still was a student pilot in the fall of
1981 or 1982. It was at a balloon safety seminar at
UMass Amherst organized by Clayton, probably one
of the first in the country. Dr. Thomas, who had
been Balloonmeister for balloons flying out of the
1980 Lake Placid Olympics and who had trained
most of the active balloon instructors in New
England, was already was held in awe by most New
England balloonists, especially newbies like Susan.
Most of the balloonists in Susan’s circle like Ralph
Hall, Charlie Manning, Tom Stodolski, and Russ
Kimball all had beards, and Susan made it clear that
she considered a beard to be the mark of a real (at
least male) balloonist. As an Air Force Reserve
officer, a beard was not an option for me then. As
Clayton entered the room, Susan said it awed tones
“That’s Clayton Thomas!” I asked “THE Clayton
Thomas?” Susan answered again in an awed tone
“Yes, the Clayton Thomas”. Clayton even then was
totally clean shaven and bald, and I mockingly said
to Susan “Nice Beard!”
Balloon Life publisher Bill Armstrong told about how Dr. Thomas signed him off for his balloon license in
1974 while he was living in Washington, DC. He said that in those days, other characters he flew with in the
Washington area were employed by “The Bureau of Roads”, one of the many euphemisms used to misidentify the
CIA! Armstrong said that in October 1974, he was flying an old Raven S-50 for his check ride. He flew about 10
feet off the ground for little more than a minute, with Clayton observing from the ground. It was enough in those
days to get his signoff!
Ads:
Making room in the garage for more toys…
Burner For Sale: 1987 TBW T-3 burner, excellent condition, includes padded burner bag. $500 Jim Regan (860) 209-0351 or
ctballooning@sbcglobal.net
Tanks for Sale: 4 Worthington 10-gallon aluminum tanks. 1 is a TBW master. 3 are slaves with POL fittings and full tank
collars. The POL fittings can easily be swapped out with Rego fittings. All have padded tank covers. They will need an updated
visual inspection. $150/ea or $500 for all four. Jim Regan (860) 209-0351
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The 2006 Godfrey L. Cabot Award will be presented to
Steve Fossett
In recognition of Fossett’s accomplishments in flying three of the most significant
around the world flights ever flown.
• The first solo, non-stop, unrefueled flight around the world in a fixed wing aircraft, the Virgin Atlantic
GlobalFlyer.
Fossett took off from Salina, Kansas on February 28, 2005 and returned on March 3, 2005 after completing the
record-breaking flight in 67 hours and 2 minutes, averaging almost 300 mph.
• The first solo, non-stop, round the world flight in a manned balloon.
In 2002, Fossett became the first person to achieve a solo balloon flight round the world after working toward the
record for seven years. At the helm of the “Bud Light Spirit of Freedom”, he set an Absolute Round the World
Speed Record by a Manned Balloon and a new 24 Hour Balloon Distance Record.
• The longest non-stop flight by any aircraft in history – 26,389 statute miles
In February, 2006, Fossett flew the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer a total distance of 26,389.3 miles, covered in 76
hours and 45 minutes. The flight culminated in a dramatic emergency landing following a large scale electrical
failure, with Fossett landing the plane with ice covering the cockpit windows.
In addition to his history-making solo non-stop around the world flights, Steve Fossett is among the world’s
greatest adventurers and aviation enthusiasts. He also holds Round the World records for medium weight
airplanes (in both directions) as well as the U.S. transcontinental records for non-supersonic airplanes and
unlimited turboprops. And, in October, 2004, Fossett set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships in the
Zeppelin NT! He holds current official World Records in 5 sports.
2005 SpaceShipOne Team
The 2006 Godfrey L. Cabot Award
will be presented to Steve
Fossett at
The Cabot Award Luncheon
The Seaport Hotel
One Seaport Lane, Boston, Massachusetts
Friday, June 9, 2006
11:30 am - Reception (cash bar) – 12:15 pm - Luncheon (New England Scrod)
$35 per person or $350 per table of ten. (Parking available at the Seaport Hotel Garage)
Please send reservations to: Ms. Georgia Pappas, 209 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn, MA 01902
Make checks payable to: Aero Club of New England
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY MAY 26, 2006
In recognition of Fossett’s accomplishments in flying three of the most
significant around the world flights ever flown.
For further information call Georgia Pappas at (781) 592-9357
or visit the Aero Club of New England at www.acone.org
Larry Fortin home from hospital
Larry Fortin returned home yesterday after eight weeks in the hospital recovering from his car accident. He is
doing pretty well. The first thing he did was go to Gregg's restaurant (great desserts!) with Joan. If you'd like to
contact him his info is as follows: Larry and Joan Fortin, 31 Fortin Road, Kingston, RI 02881 (401) 783-9731
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CLAS Meeting, April 20th, 2006
Attendance: Mike Bollea, Tony Roswell, Mark Sand, Charlie Perreault, Penny Christy, Matthew Dutkiewicz, Garry
Guertin, Daryl and Cindy Smith and their puppy in training,
Meeting began at 7:30 p.m. with Beth Miller, from IMC Balloon Insurance Agency, on Charlie’s crystal
clear Nextel phone. She spoke with us and answered questions for the next hour and a half.
Beth discussed how we are responsible for our Insurance policies. If there is a sentence, phrase or word
we don’t understand, ask our agent.
As an incentive, IMC is giving a discount if we use release(s) or hold harmless agreements for everyone
including our crew who are around our balloons.
Charlie Perreault distributed landowner cards.
CLAS Audit of the 2005 books was completed.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10p.m.
Respectively submitted, Garry Guertin for Ellen Dressel, Secretary
Honorary Members of CLAS receive Thank-you gifts!
Dale Martin of the Plainville Fire Department has presented balloonists and his town with a wonderful Balloon
Event for many years in Plainville. CLAS has awarded Dale an honorary membership in CLAS for his
contributions to the ballooning community for producing the Plainville Balloon Festival every year at the end of
August.
Bob Martens, our retired FAA Aviation Safety Program Manager for our Flight Standards District Office
(FSDO covering CT and Western MA), has also been awarded an honorary membership in CLAS for his
contributions to the ballooning community.
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CLAS 2006 COMPETITION
April 8th: Daryl and Cindi Smith, Mike Bollea, Charlie Perreault, Jim Regan, Kevin Brielmann, and
Penny Christy met in Ellington, watched flags indicate the gusty wind and “caravanned” to breakfast at
the Cosmic Omelet in Manchester.
Second 2006 Fly-out/Competition Saturday May 20th Skylark Airport, East Windsor, CT
Meeting time will be May 20th 5:15AM at Skylark Airport
We will send at least 2 e-mail reminders out each month, as well as publishing it in the newsletter.
We're going to vary the tasks this year, so it’s not the same thing every time. We may even score multiple tasks
on the same day if the weather will allow it. And I'll try to get you the standings each month for the newsletter.
2006 CLAS Competition Schedule
April 8 (Called for Wind)
May 20
June 10
July 8
August 26
September 16
October 14
November 18
December 9
January 6, 2007
Ellington, CT
East Windsor CT
Cheshire, CT
TBA
Plainville, CT
TBA
Cheshire, CT
TBA
TBA
Southington, CT
Rt. 83 Ellington Supermarket parking Lot
Balloons over Skylark Airport
Rte 10 Commuter lot
Plainville Balloon Festival
Rte 10 commuter lot
Frozen Buns fly-out
Competition flights are scheduled for Saturday mornings. The next morning (Sunday) is the back-up date.
Crew Scoring
by Jim and Lisa Regan
So you think you have the right stuff? You may THINK you’re an A-1 crewperson, but until you take this little test,
you won’t know for sure!
1. Definitely a morning person +3 points
2. Brings coffee for pilot +1 point
3. Can read a map
+2 points
4. Can read a 10-year-old map with coffee stains+2 points
5. Has mastered the art of showing up at the landing site just as the balloon is packed up
-2 points
6. Sleeps through alarms, phone calls, and barking dogs -1 point
7. Can back up a trailer +1 point
8. Terrified of deer ticks and poison ivy -2 points
9. Calls to wake up the pilot’s spouse and children during the chase
-2 points
10. Accidentally leaves the bag for the balloon at the launch site -4 points
11. Insists on a radio position update every 45 seconds during the flight -1 point
12. Forgets to turn the radio on -2 points
13. Beats pilot to landing site 3 out of 4 times
+2 points
14. Beats pilot to champagne 3 out of 4 times
-1 point
15. Makes pleasant conversation with passengers on the ride back to the launch site
+1 point
How did you do? If your score was in the positive range, you’re crew material!
Connecticut Lighter Than Air Society - 2006 CLAS Officers
President:
Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Penny Christy
Charlie Perreault
Ellen Dressel
Mark Sand
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860-857-8757
860-637-4017
203-272-6116
860-536-7393
pmchristy@earthlink.net
bythefireplace@earthlink.net
edressel@cox.net
mdsand@snet.net
CONNECTICUT LIGHTER THAN AIR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
The Connecticut Lighter Than Air Society is a club for anyone interested in learning about, participating in, and improving the sport of
ballooning. Pilots, crew, and enthusiasts alike are welcome and ALL can contribute to the safety, enjoyment and education of the sport.
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Meetings are scheduled monthly on the 3 Thursday of the month at the Plainville Municipal Building (Route 372 at Whiting St.) at 7:30 PM.
For more information, contact any of the officers listed in this newsletter.
CLAS DUES $20 include membership privileges and newsletter.
Extra voting family member add $5
Newsletter Subscription Only $15
CLAS Member Pins $5 ($3 members)
Decals $2 ($1 members)
Landowner Pins $4 ($3 members – limited quantity)
NAME _______________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS____________________________________________________________________
CITY_______________________________STATE______________ZIP___________
TELEPHONE (Home) ______________(Work)____________________(Cell)________________
E-Mail______________________________ Will accept newsletter electronically? Yes___ No___
(Default will be electronically unless notified otherwise.)
CLAS Membership Info:
Single ($20)___ Family ($20)___ Extra Vote ($5) Name: __________ Newsletter Only ($15)____
New _____ Renewing _____
Crew_____ Student Pilot _____Private Pilot_____ Commercial Pilot_____ N#_________
BFA #__________________
BFA CAAP Level ________ BFA PAAP Level ________
FAA Wings Level Completed________
Pilot Certificate # __________________Type(s) of Certificate(s) _________________________
Make Checks payable to CLAS and mail to: CLAS PO Box 53, Southbury, CT 06488-0053
Stamp
The Scoop/ CLAS
FIRST CLASS MAIL
PO Box 53
Southbury, CT 06488-0053
www.lighterthanair.org
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