BY MIKE FUHRMAN
Bill Meadows has a lifetime of incredible memories from his career in hot-air ballooning.
There was the time he nearly buzzed the tower at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and — with the permission of air traffic controllers — brought his balloon in for a perfect landing between two jets at Gate 12.
He also remembers taking Gov. Bob Scott for a 45-minute flight that ended unceremoniously in a city dump, much to the amusement of the governor and the consternation of his staff.
And, as many locals know, Meadows founded the event that eventually evolved into the Carolina BalloonFest, which is scheduled for this weekend at the Statesville Regional Airport. (For more information about this year’s event, visit www.carolinaballoonfest.com.)
The inaugural National Balloon Rally, which was held on Meadows’ property north of Statesville in 1974, was a no-frills gathering of local pilots. Over nine days, a total of 450 flights were logged.
“It was truly a rally for the first five years,” Meadows recalls. “We didn’t advertise. No one knew we were flying until they saw the balloons in the sky.
“It was really a homecoming for pilots.”
This weekend’s BalloonFest, which will feature more than 50 balloons, live entertainment and more, will be a homecoming of sorts for Meadows, a 1955 graduate of Statesville High who owned and operated Balloon Ascensions Ltd. for decades. He moved to Southport about 10 years ago.
On Friday morning, he’ll be among the group kicking off the big weekend when he takes flight in the “Big Oh” with local pilot Charles Page and local radio legend Billy Buck.
On Thursday afternoon, Meadows was a special guest at GGs Art Frames Gifts in Downtown Statesville. He was on hand to sign copies of his new book, “Balloon Stories: A Collection of Adventures, Historic and Humorous Hot Air Balloon Stories.”
The book, written with the assistance of local pilot Kristie Darling, provides a history of modern hot-air ballooning, including an homage to pioneers like Tracy Barnes.
Meadows had no shortage of material for the 152-page book, which he was inspired to write by his wife Nancy and other family members and friends.
“I like to sit down and tell stories,” he said. “I’m 87. I’m not going to be here another 100 years.”
Meadows was the first balloon pilot licensed by the FAA in the Southeast, and he operated the second FAA-approved school for balloon pilots in the U.S.
Over the years, he logged over 5,000 flights, owned 13 different balloons and trained 102 other pilots. For six years, beginning in 1973, he played a key role in the Carowinds Air Show. He’s flown over Europe and South America, and was the first hot-air balloon pilot to fly across North Carolina.
For his book, he selected 22 of his favorite stories to share. As the book’s title promises, the stories are packed with adventure and humor.
“I could write a book with 220 stories and they would all be great,” he explained.
Meadows’ interest in hot-air ballooning was sparked by a road trip with his brother to Florida, which just happened to coincide with the launch of the Apollo 11.
To his brother’s amazement, Meadows drove up to the security gate at Cape Canaveral and presented his business card to the officers. Within an hour, they were seated in the VIP viewing area with dignitaries like former President Lyndon Johnson and Charles Lindbergh, along with 69 foreign ambassadors and dozens of scientists.
When he returned to work at Carolina Two-Way Radio in Charlotte, Meadows was discussing the historic Apollo 11 mission and the progress from hot-air ballooning to space travel with a co-worker.
“Out of the blue and for no known reason,” Meadows wrote in the book, “I asked, ‘Are there any hot air balloons flying today?’ “
The co-worker’s wife was a TV reporter, who had recently interviewed Tracy Barnes, who had moved to the Charlotte area and started building hot air balloons.
By that afternoon, Meadows had met Barnes, beginning a friendship and business partnership that lasted nearly 50 years.
The rest, as the saying goes, is history — which you can read all about in Meadows’ book.
Bill Meadows’ book can be purchased at GGs in Downtown Statesville, this weekend at Carolina BalloonFest, or by contacting Meadows at airships1969@gmail.com or Kristie Darling at kristie@coolspring.com.