Calling all balloonists age 18 and Younger to design the next BFA Jr. Balloonist logo!

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The BFA Board recently approved new pricing options for membership, starting January 1, 2015. Especially exciting is a new, lower priced option for members who would elect to view their BALLOONING magazine online. For as little as $35 per year, ballooning enthusiasts can become BFA members, with full voting rights, access to private 'member-only' features of the website, and can add only what they desire (hot air competition membership, ride operators, gas balloon memberships) for an additional fee.

Have no worries, the colorful and informative BALLOONING magazine will continue to be available if you choose to be mailed directly to your home every other month, just as it has in the past. The printed magazine add-on is just $20 per year, which combined with a regular membership fee of $35 is $55, the same price as the BFA has charged for over 15 years! Of course the online version of the magazine is available for viewing by all members.

So if you have fellow pilots or crew that have an interest in joining and supporting our community, a lower entry might make that more affordable.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Anyone who joins as a new BFA member between December 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 will have their new membership extended until March 31, 2016. Join NOW and get a few months FOR FREE! Makes a great holiday gift for crew members, family, and friends! The $35 Digital Membership can be purchased now for new members!

Let's share our interest in ballooning and grow our sport!

To join:

• Go to the BFA Store Link
• In the upper left, choose MEMBERSHIP
• Choose NEW MEMBERSHIPS
• Select from the membership choices
• Choose CHECKOUT
• If you are a new STORE customer, create an account (different than your BFA member log-in)
• Complete the purchase information
• Put any specifics in the COMMENT section (like the purchase is a gift for someone else, etc)
• Confirm the Order
• The BFA office staff will process your membership and send information to you

We apologize for the confusing process (new website coming soon), but you can always call Sharon at the BFA office at 515-961-8809 if you need assistance.

Thinking about doing a long jump this winter?  The 2014-2015 rules have now been posted.

The BFA Long Jump is an annual contest to promote the sport of hot air ballooning. Individual pilots plan and conduct their own flights from launch sites of their own choosing.   The basic rules are “40 gallons of propane, fly as far as you can.”

The complete rules and all the details are at 2014-2015 Long Jump.

Photo: Bill Smith from his 2014 Long Jump

The ballooning season may be coming to an end for many pilots and crew throughout the United States, but the BFA Youth Program is excited to announce that there will be TWO BFA Youth Summer Camps in 2015. The first camp will occur June 28- July 2, 2015 in Reno, NV at the University of Nevada-Reno. The second will occur July 12-16, 2015 in Millersville, PA at Millersville University.

Both camps will welcome 20 teens who share a strong interest in ballooning for an interactive 5 day camp focused on teaching the next generation of balloonists. Presentations will be focused on ballooning safety and pilot/crew training. Tethers and possibly free flights will be planned to allow campers to receive hands on ground and flight training.

Do you have the September/October issue of BALLOONING lying around? Turn to page 30-32 and read what the campers at the 2014 BFA Youth Summer Camps had to say about their experiences.

Grab a cup of coffee and pick up the November/December issue of BALLOONING and turn to page 34-37 to read about how camper Cameron Wall had perfect timing, went to camp and bought a balloon.

Or, wait patiently for the January/February issue of BALLOONING to have an article from a four-time BFA Youth Summer Camp camper, Ben Humphreys, sharing his journey from Jr. Balloonist to flying as a primary pilot in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (and winning money too!).

Help grow the sport and welcome the next generation of balloonists by donating to the BFA Youth Program. Contact BFA Youth Chair Mike Shrum at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. Camp wouldn’t be possible without the generous donations from the ballooning community.

Registration will become available very soon; check www.bfacamps.com or www.bfa.net for registration information.