6th Annual Extreme Flight to Find a Cure

I am once again going to fly a long distance, high altitude hot air balloon flight to raise money for cancer research. The one flight will take place sometime between this December and next March. I may reach altitudes of 17,000 feet and fly several hundreds of miles. The previous flights have been flown between 105 and 413 miles in distance. These first five flights have raised over $31,000 for cancer research. You can be a part of this flight in two ways. First you can honor people that you know who are dealing with or have dealt with cancer by submitting their names for me to fly on the flight. I call this “Lifting UP a Loved One”. You must submit a minimum of $10 per name for the name to be flown. You then can designate what cancer organization you want your donation to go to. Secondly you can track the flight as it happens. I have a live tracking device on-board so the general public can follow the flight. Both donations and names of Loved Ones have been coming in and you can scroll down to donate and submit names.

  I will use oxygen to survive and experience very cold temperatures, but what I go through is insignificant compared to what cancer patients suffer. We all have been affected by cancer in one way or another. I fly for all those affected by cancer. Be a part of this flight by submitting names of Loved Ones, donating, following it live, and help me by telling others about this flight.

Thank You

Tim Cloyd

Extreme Flight was flown on January 29, 2018

The 6th annual flight was a complete success. As I started the winter of 2017 the weather was extreme. December brought excessive cloudiness with extremely cold temperatures. However the conditions for a safe long flight did not set up. January then came along and so did warmer temperatures which also are not good conditions. I was watching long range forecasts knowing that by the end of January into the middle of February was showing colder temps and more favorable winds. So the opportunity to fly started to develop for Monday January 29 with launching in Northwest Iowa. As each day approached it became apparent that Sioux City, IA. would be the launch location. The forecast was to be cold and light winds at launch and landing with high winds aloft. My team drove to North Sioux City, S.D. to stay overnight the evening before. We woke up for launch day to a temperature of -2 and conditions were perfect. Another pilot Kim Magee was also going to fly her balloon and attempt to set two world records. We drove to Graham Field in North Sioux City to launch. This small airport has some rich history. Ace pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and famous pilot Charles Lindbergh used this airport. We launched together and both climbed above 17,700 feet. Winds at the high altitudes were in the 90+ mph range, after one and a half I descended to 12,000 feet and eventually landing at 6 mph near Hopkins, MO. I over flew over 4 states for three hours and covered a distance of 163 miles in temperatures as low as -25 degrees. Also I reached a top altitude of 17,828 feet as well as an amazing top speed of 100 mph which. I flew 69 names of people that have dealt with cancer. I would like to thank Jim Pearson and Brad Teymeyer for helping me with weather and Ed Chapman for technical support. Also I would like to thank everyone who sent me their prayers and well wishes. Your support for my flights inspire me to keep flying the Extreme Flight. I will be flying the 7th annual flight during the winter of 2018-19 and 8 names of people who have dealt with cancer have now been submitted for next year’s flight. You can submit names now for the 7th annual flight. 

The following are the names I read on this years flight: 

Eric Aston, Dick Biskey, Truman Biskey, Dorothy Brouillet, PAt Brouillet, James Buckley, Vince Buckley, Connie Carlton (a sister-in-law), Debra Carra, Tim Cook (a Dad), Memory of Myrtle Cuckie, Linda Cummings, Grandma Dori, Joey Douglas, Memory of Sister Evelyn Dreckman, Memory of Jeanette Erickson, Tom Esser, Debbye Fihn, Ann Flaten, Marlyce Frisk, Mary Gierke, Denice Goecke, Memory of Steve Harris, Chris Keefe, Albert Kersting, Memory of Brenda Koth, Karen Krumrie, Mary Kukowski, Lynette Johnson, Tammy Johnson, Memory of Ken Laborde, Darlene Landrus, Joan MciLravy, Jack Maxwell, Larry Majeski, Ruth Majeski, Nick Martino, Natasha McDonald (a daughter), Denise Myers, Memory of Sister Lillian Neyens, Sally Nickele, Janice Olsson, Terry Olsson, Memory of Gerry Prine, Clate Rath, Bruce Reeck, Dorothy Rizzotto, Bill Roff (a Dad), Gary Salisbury, Les salibury, Dick Schneider, Josiah Schoeder, Honor of Liam Schroeder, Debi Scharf, Peggy Smith, Rod Snavely, Stacy Stover, Alex Strelow, Taylor Sweers, Donald Vish (a husband), Michael Vish (a Son), Joe Vogel, Memory of David Watson, Memory of Susan Whelan, Memory of Butch Williams (a Dad), Martha Woolsey.  

I would like to thank the following sponsors of this flight: Affinity Credit Union, Balloons Over Iowa, Elliott Aviation,    

Ann Longobardi, M & M Cartage, Triple Crown Products

 The flight was flown on January 30, 2016 with a distance of 105 miles achieved. The 2 hour 24 minute flight reached an top altitude of 17,604 feet and a top speed of 68 MPH. Both launch and landing wind speeds were under 5 MPH. My launch was once again from the Ashton Observatory near Baxter, Iowa and landed near West Liberty, Iowa. It was a beautiful day for the flight. Temperature at launch was 32 degrees and at altitude it did get down to zero but even at that temperature is still can be warm as you will see in the second video below. On this flight I took a passenger. Her name is Aimee Wetzel Luhrs and she experienced a great memory.

I flew 79 names of Loved Ones on this flight and below are the names.   
Katherine Arment, Robert Arnold, Annette Ashley, (Honor of) Yvonne Ball, (Honor of) Joanne Berneche, Bob Book, Glenn Book, (Honor of) Cheryl Brewer, (Memory of) Dorothy Brouillet-mother, (Honor of) Alan Buchana, (Memory of) Vincent Buckley-father, (Memory of) Nancy Burkett, (Memory of) Nancy Mary Jane Camp, Connie Carlton, Maggie Carlton, Holly Cretsinger, Helen Dahl, Chris Davidson, Cindy Davidson, (Memory of) Loren Deines, Cecilia Dougherty, (Memory of) Evelyn Dreckman, (Memory of) Jeanette Erickson, Debbie Everhart, (Honor of) Mary Foster, (Memory of) Joe Gavin, Eldon Greenwood, Chuck Gutterridge, (Memory of) Jill Hatfield, Marty Hook. (Honor of) Josephine Kelly, Herb Kohlman, Chris Kreps, (Memory of) Lawrence Jordan, (Memory of) Marjorie Jordan, (Memory of) George A. Lehman, Ellie Loehr, Jeff Lungner, Elmer “Salty” McAferty, Marilyn McCrory, (Honor of) Wanda Mahan, Elaine Maifeld, (Memory of) Don Marquardt, (Memory of) Dora Bella Martz, (Honor of) Fred Martz, (Honor of) Freda Martz, (Memory of) Joseph Martz, (Honor of) Kathy Martz-French, (Memory of) Thomas Martz, (Memory of) Kevin Mote, (Honor of) Deidra Murry, (Memory of) Lillian Neyens, Beth Owens, Toa Powers, (Honor of) Gerry Prine, (Memory of) Larry Rettele, (Memory of) Norma Riney, David Ross, Kathy Ross, (Honor of) Nina Sappington,  (Honor) Patty Sheehan, (Honor of) Chris Sparks, (Honor of) Marie Spence, Natasha Story, Bill Strange, Caroline Sykes, (Honor of) Patti Todden, (Honor of) Mary Turner, (Honor of) Janel Twehous, Don Vish, Micheal Vish, (Honor of) Barb West, Martha Woolsey, (Honor of) Ann Wright, Ray Wright, Tim Wunder, Beulah Wunder, (Honor of) Barb Young, (Honor of) Janice Kay Zimmerman.
 

Donations were given to the following cancer organizations: American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Susan G. Koman, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make a Wish.

The following were sponsors of this flight. Edward Jones of Franklin, Wi., Country Propane of Milo, Ia.,
   Air Gas of Des Moines, Ia.

 This year the flight had added a new feature. The Hormel Institute for Cancer Research/ Mayo Clinic in Austin Minnesota partnered with the flight. They are a world class cancer research institutes. So this expanded the reach and awareness of the flight to people of Austin, Mn. and the awareness of the Hormel Institute to the ballooning world that I know. Jim Pearson and Rich Jaworski helped me with weather. As normal I patiently watched the weather until an opportunity for a flight to arise. The Sunday of February 5, 2017 showed promise. As Sunday drew closer the possibility got better and finally it was decided it was a GO. The launch site had been moving that week from Sioux Falls, S.D. to SW Iowa to SE Nebraska to Northern Missouri to finally Indianola, IA. So on Saturday before the flight I notified everyone to meet at the Indianola, IA. Balloon Field at 6:30 am for a launch from there. I knew the surface winds for launch and landing would be very good. I woke up at 3:30 am and found that Indianola would have low cloud ceilings until mid morning. After talking to my weather man Jim, we decided I should drive south to find sun. My ground team was Steve Metz,

Craig Swanson, Nathan & Tiffany Wheeldon and Elsie. Lucas Stephens, Katie Leveke and Rich Wheeldon followed behind for launch only. We left the field at 7:05 and drove south into Missouri and found sun. We went to Bethany, Mo. for launch. The winds were not bad. On the drive down we picked a high school for a launch site, arrived there and quickly set up. In a pre-flight conversation with Jim Pearson, he said to stay at about 7-9,000 ft. and fly due east for 2 hours then I can ascend. If I immediately ascended to 17,000 ft. I would fly towards St. Louis. As I flew the flight plan, I stayed between 7-9,000 ft. moving at speed not much faster than 42 mph for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Then I received a text from Jim and he said I could now climb because ST Louis now would not be a factor. I climbed to 10,000 feet and leveled off. This is when I read the names of Loved Ones. The names of people who have dealt with cancer, 59 names to be precise. After that I continued to ascend where I found a speed of 68 mph. As in previous flights, I climbed to see what speeds were up higher. As I climbed the speeds slowed down into the mid 50 mph’s. I decided to descend for the speeds were better at lower altitudes. For the next 2 ½ hours I flew between 12-14,000 ft. at speeds from 60-68 mph. Tanks 1-4 were now empty. I had been using tank 5 and when I changed to tank 6, I decided to descend and land. I text weather man Jim to ask for surface winds and he said they were 4-6 mph which I thought was great. I now was over Illinois as I started my descent. I was prepared for possible thermal activity so I approached the landing carefully. At 300 ft. above ground the speed was 4 mph. I had some VERY large farm fields to land in. I then descended for landing and saw the speed increase, from 5 to 9 mph at which I landed. It was a good stand up landing. I then called Elsie on the phone to ask how far away they were. She said 25 miles. So for the next 20 minutes I kept the balloon standing until the ground team arrived. I had landed in a corn field which had tall stalks. When the crew arrived they guided me to a soybean field where we laid the balloon down. Here are some of the stats. Distance-192 miles, Top Altitude-16,325 ft., Top Speed-68 mph, flight time 4 hours 15 minutes. The flight was a success and I was thrilled with the accomplishment. I had over 2,800 people watch the Facebook live video. The Hormel Institute addition was very good. Thank you to my wife Elsie, Jim Pearson and Rich Jaworski for weather, the ground team and to all of you who support the flight.

   Names of Loved ones flown on the flight. 

Janet Abney, Wanda Anthony, In loving memory of Justin Askins, Pete Asp, Kathleen Bosi, Christy Bottoni, Dorothy Brouillet, James Bucket, Vincent Buckley, Sara Coy, Andy Davis, Margaret Davis, Jeff Eicher, Jeanette Erickson, Tom Esser, Memory of Kathy Martz-French, Mary Beth Gierke, Harold Graves, Lucile Graves, Cheryl Ham, Melissa Hosey, Kathy Houdek, Shawn Jacques, Gary Johnson, Vernon Karsten, Chris Keefe, Sandy Knitt, Herb Kohlman, Carol Ann Lamberto, Jeff Laust, Honor of Wanda Manda, Adrien Mauerman, Memory of Dora Belle Martz, Honor of Fred Martz, Honor of Freda Martz, Memory of Joseph Martz, Memory of Thomas MArtz, Wanda Martz, Memory of Loan Mclravy, Memory of Jeanette Meyer, Mike McCordle, Aidan Murphy, Mike Nelson, Dan Paulsen, Lisa Powers, Jack Pratt, Gerry Prine, Larry Ramey, Mary Rose, Ken Ruth, Deb Scharf, Bill Schmitt, Janiis Simpson, Amy Stonemar, Curtis Stratmeyer, Honor of Zoe Wagner, David Watson, Erma Watson, Ryan Witte (Wit ee’).

Donations were given to the following cancer organizations: American Cancer Society, Childrens Cancer Connection, Hormel Institue for cancer Research, Gastric Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen, National Brain Tumor Society, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, John Stoddard Cancer Center. 

The following were sponsors:Affinity Credit Union, Balloons Over Iowa, Country Propane, Elliot Aviation, Hormel, Lindstrand Balloons USA.