April 10, 2003

Bill Cloninger and Debby Young of the Northeast Ohio Balloon Pilots Association.

They will be doing a presentation on the 2001 Nightstar Project which targeted 4 US and World Records and achieved 3 of them. Bill set a new AX5 Duration record and Debby set new AX5 Feminine Duration and Distance Records.

Please join us for this informative meeting!

 March 13, 2003

Jerry Vorachek discusses his long association with Goodyear Aircraft, Goodyear Aerospace, Loral, and Lockheed Martin and their Lighter-Than-Air programs. He will highlight his experiences in the High Altitude Airship program over the years. Jerry was invited to join the Council of Legends at Lockheed Martin, a group of retirees that consult on their current High Altitude Airship program.

"The Modern 56K"

Warren H. Morrison is program director at Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems - Akron, for the newest aerostat design fielded.

"Early Lighter Than Air in Akron"

The L-T-A Society’s collections conservator, Bill Cody, will give us insight on how and why Akron became a center for lighter-than-air activities. His talk will explore the LTA history and technical developments that found a home in Akron in the early years of the twentieth century, and continue to this day.

Moreover, we will learn about the people who made this early LTA progress possible, noting the contributions of people such as: Ralph Upson and R. A. D. Preston, F. A. Seiberling and Melvin Vaniman, P. W. Litchfield and Herman Kraft — among many others famous and not-so-famous.

50th Annual Banquet

You are cordially invited to attend this special celebration at the Martin Center (105 Fir Hill in Akron) where so many early LTAS banquets were held. Hear plans for a Lighter Than Air Museum in Akron. Celebrate our history and its special people. Learn about the exciting future of the lighter-than-air field and the Society.

A Gala Evening is planned with our trustee Dave Osterland of the University of Akron as Master of Ceremonies. We will recognize the recent solo round-the-world balloon flight. The Society will provide a unique table favor for everyone and the Exhibit Support Team is drawing on our extensive collection in the LTAS Workshop to provide an outstanding and fascinating set of historic displays to view before and after the dinner.

The Display and social period will begin at 6:00 PM and dinner will be served at 7:00 PM. We look to see you all at this historic banquet to begin the next 50 years!!! Be sure to get your reservations in early, as we will be limited to about 150.

"FLOATING ON AIR DOCUMENTARY"

Phil Hoffman, of the University of Akron and PBS Channels 45/49, will be our guest speaker at the September 12th meeting. Mr. Hoffman was the producer of the Emmy nominated show "Floating on Air", and will discuss the making of that program. He interviewed a large number of our members and included their comments in the program. As the jacket on the video states " If you were raised in Akron during the latter half of the 20th century, the sights and sounds of blimps floating overhead probably hold a place in your childhood mental scrapbook. In PBS 45 & 49's Floating on Air, lighter-than-air enthusiasts share the fond memories and fascinating history of Akron's unofficial mascot of the skies. Discover the story of these amazing flying, floating machines and how they work in Floating on Air." Join us in an interesting evening with Mr. Hoffman as he discusses the production of this excellent program.