INTRODUCING SUZY BLUE

I featured Suzy Blue in Friday's SHOW & TELL post.

First I have to say we DID own a hot-air balloon named Suzy Blue, we do not now own a hot-air balloon.

We sold her in 1984 after moving to Albuquerque.

The following things were listed in my 100 post

These give a brief run down of how we became the owner of her.

90. In 1979 we were invited by some friends to go to the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. We had no interest, or knowledge, about hot air balloons but being from NM and Albuquerque where we went almost annually anyway we said "sure".

91 Our first glimpse of a hot air balloon is what they call the dawn patrol. They put up just a few balloons right at sun rise. When we saw that first balloon light up like a light bulb in the sky we were so excited.

92 We returned from the Fiesta and Mickey began training for his Hot Air Balloon Pilot License and we ordered a balloon!!! When it arrived on May 19, 1981 we named her "Suzy Blue".

93. When Marc was 14 he began taking lessons for his Pilot License and had a big write-up in the Tulsa World as the youngest student pilot ever in Tulsa. (I'll blog about this at a later date)

94. One of the people who flew in "Suzy Blue" is Anthony M*a*s*o*n. He worked for one of the local TV stations and took the ride and reported about it. Anthony Mason is now a news reporter on one of the 3 national TV networks. (Can't remember but I think it's CBS).

95. The local morning radio celebrity of the day, John E*h*r*l*i*n*g did an actual morning broadcast from "Suzy Blue" live.

96. "Suzy Blue" was the 3rd hot air balloon in Tulsa. The 3 of us, all close friends, were featured on the cover of The Tulsa Magazine.

97. We got a lot of attention every time we would fly. We would look down and it would kind of be like Pied Piper with all the children (cars) following.

This picture of Suzy Blue appeared on the cover of Tulsalite Magazine July, 1981 The insert below About the cover: reads

Five years ago there were approximately 700 hot-air balloons in the nation.

Today that number is up to more than 2500 and is growing rapidly - and the Tulsa

area is no exception. Readying for the lift-off at 31st & Memorial, the hot-air

balloons pictured on this month's cover are the colorful aircraft of

Tulsa balloonist Mickey Joyce, Ken Cook and Ron Thompson.

Tulsa Balloon Club member Don Clear captured the event on film.

For more on the fastrising sport, see page 36.

Suzy Blue is on the left. Center balloon is Wind Drifter & Cloud Hopper is right.

Pilot Mickey Joyce beside the chase vehicle. You can see-Follow Me....I Chase Balloons-painted on the tailgate. And follow us they did!! Every balloon has a chase crew and a chase vehicle. The chase crew helps with setting up the balloon for the inflation, the inflation itself and launching the balloon. After the balloon is in the air and drifting off all the crew jump in the back of the pick-up for the chase which is loads of fun. We had wonderful chase crews and always more volunteers than we needed. All of our chase crew wore the yellow Suzy Blue T-Shirts like Mickey is wearing.





This picture was taken at a Balloon Rally in Memphis at Memphis in May held Friday, May 22, 1981 through Sunday, May 24, 1981. We had just received Suzy Blue and she had taken her maiden flight in Tulsa on May 19th. This was the first rally she & Mickey flew in. Mickey won the 3rd place prize of $175 in the Hound & Hare Race on Saturday morning.. We landed on 3 different property owners during those 3 days and the first couple whose property we landed on won the Property Owners Drawing of a new TV. It was an exciting time for all of us, especially since Mickey's brother Doug, sister-in-law Helen, & nephew, Steve lived in Memphis and got to participate with us in all the fun.





See Mickey Mouse sitting on the basket? Every balloon has a mascot and of course we purchased Mickey before the balloon was even delivered. He made each and every flight that Suzy Blue ever flew sitting right there. He currently resides in our guest bedroom. He's a little dirty and scuffed up from all his adventures but dearly loved and holds precious memories.





Mickey is 47 and I am 42 in this picture and yes I use to be thin! The hat I am wearing has various balloon pins on it. We had a Suzy Blue balloon pin that was given to each person who flew in the balloon, plus those who helped us crew. Each balloonist had pins made of their balloon.





This is a picture that was taken of us near an apartment complex near down town Tulsa one evening. If you look closely you can see the Oklahoma flag hanging off the left side of the balloon. We always flew the flag each time we would fly.






As you can imagine we have 100's of balloon pictures!! I just tried to pick out a few for this post. This is one of my favorites. I am the one in the yellow shirt, of course Mickey and then another good friend of ours. We were just taking off and this shot was taken shooting straight up at us. You can see the star design that the blue and white colors formed. Again if you look carefully toward the top of the picture you can see the Oklahoma Flag.








As you can imagine we had LOTS of adventures and experience with Suzy Blue and I will be sharing some more of those with you in future posts. Hope you enjoyed meeting her and learning a little about her.