Post by LOU on Jun 26th, 2025 at 8:26pm
Hello Simmers,
Hope all is well and you're having fun flying.
Here is a short story about something I did many years ago that may get a smile on your face...
1980 Winter Olympics - Lake Placid, New York.
Here I was a 35 year old kid from New York City who was given the opportunity by a fellow TWA pilot and hot air balloon enthusiast to be part of the 1980 Olympics as a member of the awards and ceremonies crew flying hot air balloons during the opening and closing ceremonies and at each night during the medal events.
Each country in the Olympics was represented by a hot air balloon carrying the countries flag for each event & opening and closing events. It was an amazing time for me to be part of this world happening and being able to attend the various Olympic events.
On the late afternoon of February 22, 1980 we had seats in the hockey arena for the game between the Russians and the USA teams. We did not have high hopes for the outcome of this game as the Russians were professionals and the USA team were a bunch of college kids. I will never forget the noise in the arena and the chant of USA, USA as the third period came to a close and the "kids" beat the Russians and went on to take the gold medal. The sight of these young kids hugging each other and the stunned Russians standing around in disbelief was truly a once in a life time event.
Hope all is well and you're having fun flying.
Here is a short story about something I did many years ago that may get a smile on your face...
1980 Winter Olympics - Lake Placid, New York.
Here I was a 35 year old kid from New York City who was given the opportunity by a fellow TWA pilot and hot air balloon enthusiast to be part of the 1980 Olympics as a member of the awards and ceremonies crew flying hot air balloons during the opening and closing ceremonies and at each night during the medal events.
Each country in the Olympics was represented by a hot air balloon carrying the countries flag for each event & opening and closing events. It was an amazing time for me to be part of this world happening and being able to attend the various Olympic events.
On the late afternoon of February 22, 1980 we had seats in the hockey arena for the game between the Russians and the USA teams. We did not have high hopes for the outcome of this game as the Russians were professionals and the USA team were a bunch of college kids. I will never forget the noise in the arena and the chant of USA, USA as the third period came to a close and the "kids" beat the Russians and went on to take the gold medal. The sight of these young kids hugging each other and the stunned Russians standing around in disbelief was truly a once in a life time event.
