Sunrise picture of SewEZ in Pendleton, Oregon.
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Marianne LeDoux
Welcome to my web page!

SewEZ
First flight in my homebuilt balloon SewEZ. It is number five of the balloons we have built.
Bob Bob LeDoux is editor and publisher of the (no-profit-ever-intended-or-made) Balloon Builders Journal. A new CD is available which contains all the journal publications. Go to Balloon Builders Journal for additional and purchasing information.

Please note: Bob and I do not sell hot air balloon rides. If you have reached this site in hopes of finding balloon rides to purchase, I suggest you go to one of the following web sites: Pacific Peaks Balloon Co | Vista Balloons | Portland Rose Hot Air Balloons. If you are interested in learning to fly a hot air balloon, I do provide flying instruction.

About Bob and I

Bob and I fly homebuilt balloons in the beautiful Willamette Valley from our backyard launch site as well as other launch sites around the area.

We started hot air ballooning in 1980 when Bob decided to swap his beautiful glider for our first balloon. We "paid our dues" with the early morning Sundance was our first balloon.long drives to launch sites for Bob's instruction and the grueling "how to be the perfect crew chief lessons." There were the perks of finding new friends; the beauty of our colorful hot air balloon, Sundance; the fun of sharing our adventures; and learning about this whole, new unknown world.

After Bob completed his commercial license, it became my turn to learn to fly. My first flight was a disaster--with an ugly four point landing into a huge blackberry thicket. But, amazingly I was hooked--BIG time! Bob was (is) a very thorough and demanding instructor. Despite all his efforts however, I received my commercial license in 1984 (skipping private altogether). I became the local instructor, guiding students to their pilot's certificate. Along the way I enjoyed holding many offices of the Northwest Ballooning Association and the 45th Parallel Aerostat Squadron. I am currently a member of the Balloon Federation of American, the Northwest Ballooning Association and the Willamette Aerostat Squadron.

CastawayIn 1986 Bob built our first homebuilt balloon, Castaway so that he would have a balloon to fly, as I somehow always managed to be the pilot-in-command. Thus started our life as a two balloon, two pilot family. Throughout the years we have continued our homebuilding and I currently fly our fifth homebuilt balloon, SewEZ. We travel to rallies around the Pacific Northwest and enjoy our beautiful local flying area. For several years I have been Balloonmeister at the Albany, Oregon rally, currently called the Northwest Art and Air Fair. This year it is August 22, 23 and 24th.

SewHappy at the Radiation Rally July 4th near St. Helens, Oregon. Object of the rally was to fly over the top of the cooling tower of nuclear power plant.In 1995 I won the Northwest Hot Air Balloon Championship competition flying SewHappy. I can claim to have been the only woman to have won the competition and am the reigning champion, since unfortunately the event was cancelled after that year.

SewLiteI fly balloons as a hobby, for the therapy, for the love of the sport and the friendships ballooning brings, and for the opportunity to share the magic with others.
IsewBar

Membership/Organizations

Member of Balloon Federation of America Balloon Federation of America
Member of Willamette Aerostat Society WAS
1995 Northwest Ballooning Champion.
Balloonmeister Northwest Art and Air Fair
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The Balloonist Prayer
The winds have welcomed you with softness.
The Sun has blessed you with his warm hands.
You have flown so high and so well,
That God has joined you in your laughter
And He has set you gently back again
into the loving arms of Mother Earth.		 Marianne's Version of The Balloonist Prayer
The winds have welcomed us with softness.
The sun has blessed us with its warm hands.
We have flown so high and so well that God, and our crew,
joins us now in laughter after we settled gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

Where I Work

Job Title/Office Hours
Department Computer Administrator (IT Consultant)
Monday thru Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

What I Do
Network administration; responsible for direct consultative support and training to computer users on information technology-based systems primarily in the areas of applications software, multimedia, database resources, and network support.

AREc and Oregon State University
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

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Contact Information

My Work Email Address
mledoux@oregonstate.edu
Our Home Email Address
bobledoux@proaxis.com
Web address
http://oregonstate.edu/~ledouxm/

Business Phone
541-737-1414

Business Mailing Address
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Oregon State University
213 Ballard Extension Hall
Corvallis OR 97331-3601
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