Today in History revisits the Wednesday, Sept. 21, 1977, edition of the Grand Forks Herald and highlights a story about a hot air balloonist who bought a balloon to use as an advertising and promotional tool.
Where he'll land he's never sure... but that is half the fun
By Ryan Bakken
Herald Staff Writer
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When Brad Lund goes up, up and away in his beautiful balloon, getting there is not half the fun.
It's all the fun.
So says the 26-year-old balloonist who finally has his feet on the ground career-wise.
Hot-air balloons do not have steering wheels nor accelerators. The answer to where balloonists end up is blowing in the wind.
"That's the fun of it — the adventure," Lund said. "You always end up in a different place. You never know where you're going for sure. You don't care, either."
Lund didn't care much for the jobs he held before he discovered balloons. He was a sports car mechanic, built boats, and tried college. None was the answer.
"I guess I always wanted to fly. And ballooning was the easiest to learn," the licensed balloon pilot said. But not the least expensive — lessons are $100 an hour.
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The price is worth it for the sensation while in the air,...