SewEZ - Marianne LeDoux

Always supportive, I struggled through rising early in the morning and the long drives to launch sites for Bob’s instruction and the grueling “how to be the perfect crew chief lessons.” There were the perks of finding new friends; the beauty of our colorful hot air balloon, Sundance; the fun of sharing an adventure with Bob; and learning about this whole, new unknown world.

After Bob completed his commercial license, it became my turn to learn to fly. My first flight was a disaster—with an ugly four point landing into a huge blackberry thicket. But, amazingly I was hooked—big time! Bob was (is) a very thorough and demanding instructor. Despite all his efforts however, I received my commercial license in 1984 (skipping private altogether). I became the local instructor, guiding nine students to their pilot’s certificate. Along the way I enjoyed holding many offices of the Northwest Ballooning Association and the 45th Parallel Aerostat Squadron. I am currently a member of the Balloon Federation of American, the Northwest Ballooning Association and the Willamette Aerostat Squadron.

In 1986 Bob built our first homebuilt balloon so that he would have a balloon to fly, as I somehow always managed to be the pilot in command. Thus started our life as a two balloon, two pilot family. Throughout the years we have continued our homebuilding and I currently fly our fifth homebuilt balloon, SewEZ (built in 1999). We travel to rallies around the Pacific Northwest and enjoy our beautiful local flying area. For several years I have been Balloonmeister at the Albany, Oregon rally, currently called the Northwest Art and Air Fair. It is held the third week in August.

In 1995, I won the Northwest Hot Air Balloon Championship competition. I can claim to have been the only woman to have won the competition and am the reigning champion, since sadly the event was cancelled after that year.

I’m still afraid of heights, but it has never bothered me in an aircraft. I fly balloons as a hobby, for the therapy, for the love of the sport and the friendships ballooning brings, and for the opportunity to share the magic with others.

• Commercial Hot Air Balloon Pilot
• Hot Air Balloon Instructor
• Hot Air Balloon Homebuilder
• Member of Balloon Federation of America
• Member of Northwest Ballooning Association
• Member of Willamette Aerostat Society
• Northwest Art and Air Fair Balloonmeister
• 1995 Northwest Ballooning Champion