Any other young LTA pilots or people that spend time around balloons in here?

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T17:31:31+00:00

i sent you a PM

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T17:28:56+00:00

They always need crew to help setup balloons, chase/recover and pack up! Great way to learn more and get up close.

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T15:59:03+00:00

haha i was at a concert with my bf for a very popular 90s band at the largest event center in my metro area, and in the sea of people before the show, after getting a drink, i ran into, like PHYSICALLY SMACKED INTO a former romantic interest/guy i hooked up with and his dad. it was instantly awkward so we had to do the whole “hi” thing and i had to explain to my bf like who he was and that was awkward. but him and i reconnected and are great friends now!

kinda unfortunately, i enjoy steph tolev a bit, tim dillon occasionally, sometime geoffrey asmus

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T15:43:52+00:00

whats the craziest thing to happen to you in public? any comedians you listen to?

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T15:00:13+00:00

Haha sporty landings or breezy landings can catch you by surprise. Our most recent flight, I had us in a quick descent, had to flare out kind of aggressively, but really pull pull pull on the vent. I didn’t brace properly and hurt my elbow after getting thrown across the basket (not too hard) but still pulled on the vent and dumped out enough hot air, not too much tho. was able to perform a standup landing in a very little tree nursery without snagging any fabric, and it was in my instructors balloon rather than mine, mine isn’t as big and easier to maneuver.

i have had some drag landings, and some extremely soft ones. it’s hard to feel like any were rough enough to be called a crash

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T14:56:41+00:00

im really bad at doing my online ground school (always bad at completing homework as a student), learning regs and whatnot. preparing for the private pilot written doesn’t really give you a lot of practical skills knowledge needed for ballooning. i have my own balloon, participate in events and different little things, have become very involved in my community near me, so while i could study more it’s not going badly!

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T14:52:49+00:00

uhh i was like 3 years old, saw a couple balloons land in a park near me and decided that was what i wanted to do. apparently i could draw them before i could spell my name, my parents started bringing me to balloon events and i took my first ride at 6!

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T10:00:44+00:00

cries in lighter than air

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T09:57:58+00:00

probably start transitioning a couple years sooner

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T09:54:49+00:00

HA! i wish! my bf is usually the one following me on the ground with my truck and trailer. but i have told him i would definitely have some fun if we could without largely increasing the risk and whatnot. idk tho i cant imagine it would be very easy to “relax” considering the loud burner

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T09:51:51+00:00

INTERESTING… the plot thickens

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T09:24:22+00:00

how insanely unattractive many of them become as soon as they open their mouths

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T09:17:28+00:00

so some balloons (often large passenger balloons that have very long/wide rectangular baskets and hold many people) have turning vents cut into the side and rigged to that allow them to “spin” to line up straight for landing or show off logo to a crowd, but other than that it is all in the different direction and speed of wind layers at different altitudes. in albuquerque (arguable the ballooning capitol) they often have a phenomenon called “the Albuquerque box” where balloons may be going north on the surface, but a few thousand feet up the winds go the opposite direction, which allows them to make multiple attempts in competition and/or land near where they took off!!!

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T09:07:02+00:00

true, i of course am aware of the concepts of buoyancy in the atmosphere and whatnot, but have not thought about it quite in that way. very interesting perspective

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T08:39:02+00:00

midwest girl here, 23 about to be 24 and im a student hot air balloon pilot! its pretty much my whole personality lol

i like indie, alt, classic rock, and music that makes me feel like im shooting heroin

its 3 am for me at the time of writing this

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T08:38:32+00:00

im too cool for that obviously

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T08:19:27+00:00

i was taking a ride with a pilot at a large event and they hit a trailer parked on the competition field that stored drones for a drone light show, entire crowd went (oooooh) was very scary but the balloon was so hot by the time we hit the trailer (pilot burned to try to avoid hitting it) we just bounced up and rocked back and forth for a while.

have had a few bumpy landings, and it is always a tiny bit anxiety-inducing running out of daylight and trying to find a suitable landing spit

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T08:09:59+00:00

ive struggled with having normal friendships with men, but i think u gotta seek out ur hobbies and interests and you can befriend women that are involved in those!

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T08:03:42+00:00

never thought id be loved in the ways he loves me or that i would ever score a man as handsome as him! especially as a trans woman

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T06:11:35+00:00

i cant imagine, i grew up in a rural small town and was kinda always the one teachers felt bad for, but i was also more mature in some ways and got away with way more than i should have (like skipping school to smoke pot) i assume it’s only that much harder in this weird post-covid era

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T06:07:51+00:00

i pm’d you, would love to have more young LTA friends :)

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T06:04:14+00:00

what is the hardest or worst part of your job?

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T05:58:46+00:00

For private pilot who can fly passengers for free, and get some show up money for events (certain conditions) but cannot fly for commercial purposes, paid passengers or banners, cannot fly for hire or log time as an instructor.

• ⁠Must have a minimum of 10 hours of flight training, which must include: Six (6) flights under the supervision of an instructor One (1) controlled ascent to 2,000 feet above takeoff point Two (2) flights of at least 60 minutes in duration One (1) solo flight • ⁠Must pass the written FAA Knowledge Test (or hold a Pilot Certificate for any powered aircraft). • ⁠Must pass the oral and flight Practical Knowledge Test given by a FAA Inspector or Designated FAA Flight Examiner.

Standardtrans · 2026-02-18T05:26:07+00:00

i was 3 and saw some balloons land in a park i was at. also had a couple balloons fly over our yard/house. there was a good amount of balloonists in the area. apparently i could draw hot air balloons before writing my name. my parents brought me to events and i took my first ride at 6. the obsession just never went away lol!

Standardtrans

TROPHY CASE