I know Niels Vereecken for quit a while now, through Koen Audenaert. He used to be his crew, now he is a pilot himself. I got a chance to interview him in Oudewater.
Questions
Which fiesta do you like most?
That is hard, there are so many nice fiestas. I think you should make a difference between a commercial fun fiestat. Like Joure is a perfect combination for us. It is sort of a holiday in the middle of the season. Others are very nice also, like Breda, Zwolle, and many more. But just for fun it would be Portugal. There is a fiesta there in November. But a fiesta is nice anyway, if it is here of there.
Do you like this interview?
Sure thing!!! It is something different. Many boys dream about becoming a pilot themselves, that how it happened with me. I made it, and not everyone does for various reasons. That is why I like it if there is communication in a different way. In Zwolle for instance, a boy came up to me and asked if I would be in a picture with him, that is so much fun. Young boys also start to collect different things as stickers, pictures and certificates. This way we get to know a different side of yoy guys.
Do you always buy the same brand of balloons, and if so why?
Yes, well I don't buy them myselve because I am a freelance pilot. But my first flight was with a Cameron, and you stick with that. I am convinced they are very good balloons. There are no bad ones, but Cameron is the best foor me. The baskets are very strong, the burners powerfull. All I look for in a flight, Cameron gives it to me.
Why did you become a pilot?
That is a hard question. I live near Gent, and many balloons in the region are close to me. So they land nearby very often. You get to know the people, start crewing with them, fly sometimes when there is room in the basket. And at one point you decide to become a pilot yourself. It was like a dream for me. And it happened!
Did you ever break a record in ballooning?
I do break personal record,but none that go in to the historybooks of something. I am not that interested in those. I admire people who do, but I don't do it myself. I did break personal record like hight or distance. But I just like flying a balloon that much, so not to break records.
Now two of my own questions:
Of all the balloons you have flown already, which one do you like most?
That is a very good questions. The balloon I like the most is the Smurf balloon. Nice for the people who come to see us, and he also flies great. At the beginning of the year we replaced all the white fabric, so he flies just like a new balloon. It is not the easiest one to fly with, a very small shute and that nose and hat. So if you land with a lot of wind, you don't stand still that fast. It is a special shape of course. But the nicest balloons are the ones of the type 160. In Belgium we take about 6 passengers with us, which is very steady in the air.
What was the strangest thing that happened during a flight?
Change of wheather! The circumstances can be a lot different than expected. When you start your flight there maybe sunshine, but during the flight there can be rainshower. Very strange and hard if you did not expect that to happen.
Here the question of my last Balloonatic Bert ter Horst:
What would you like to do with a hot air balloon?
Many things. But I would like to fly in a country far away like Australia or New Sealand. I would like that very much.
And what is your question for the next one?
What is the situation you would never want to experience during a flight?
Nice of you to spend time with me Niels. If you want to know more about the team he is freelancing with, check www.ballonvaren.be. Thanks again Niels, and see you next time.
Who were my balloonatics the past years? First everyone who had anything to do with balloons, now just those who are pilots of owners of balloons. It was not possible to get one every month, but here is a list:
Christoff Deyaert (B), Bob Stroeve, Egbert Oordt, Werner Wäschenbach (GD), Adrie Spierenburg,
Marjolein de Jong, Henri Achterberg, MInne Minnesma, Maurice Wijnhoud, Bas Spierenburg,
Rob Hoogendoorn,
Hilda Paulusma, Frans van Hooft, Geert Plukker, Jan Vermeulen,
Coen van den Heuvel, Damon D. Branstuder (USA), Sijbrand Fortuin, Dick Kleinlugtenbeld,
Bert Heupers,
Henri Raaijmakers, Leon Kurstjens, Hans Zoet, Alex-Jan Barends, Hans Pravda, Paschal Noor,
Rik Kornet,
Hans van Hoesel, Lenny Cant, Duncan Verhaaf, Koen Audenaert, Ton Rentier,
Jan Oudenampsen, Monique Hoogeslag,
Jelke Haven, Bouke Zonneveld, Patricia Struijk,
Sebe Kruijer, Gino Ciers (B), Erwin Pellegrom, Marcel Pijnappel,
Ernest Lee (USA), Frank Prell (USA),
Andrew Kaye (GB),
Martie Woestenenk, Willem Meisel, Angele Linders, Paul Kok, Peter van Harten, Jean Louis Becker, Stijn de Wulf (B), Bert ter Horst and now Niels Vereecken (B)....
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