Inflating a Hot Air Airship inside a Hockey Arena

This September is the 50th Anniversary of the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival. I was a spectator in 1973 and returned as a pilot and balloon owner in 1976. Over the following 10 years I did a lot of Lighter Than Air escapades including inflating an airship inside a hockey arena. It was a publicity stunt preceding the balloon festival in 1982. The weather was inclement so I had the brilliant idea to create a photo op for the press and got permission to use the local hockey arena. I began inflating but the air from the inflation fan was warming the ice and creating a large puddle of water. I stopped so as not to ruin the skating surface, but got enough air inside to get the pix below in the Capital District newspapers.

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Like a breeching whale!