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11Jun

Annual Top Gun Club Meeting and Election of Board Members

Interested in helping shape the future of Top Gun Balloon Club? We are currently accepting nominations for our Board of Directors. Serving on the board is a great opportunity to support the club, contribute your ideas, and help guide future activities and initiatives. How to nominate: • Self-nominations are welcome • Email any current board member or secretary@topgunballooning.org • Nomination deadline: Friday, June 20 President Jeff Ashworth,...

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29Mar

Rio Grande Classic and New Top Gun Pilots

Feeling a little sheepish about your competition skills as a new Top Gun pilot? Remember, you’re really only competing against yourself. And hey, we also have a Rookie of the Year award… so you’ve got a real shot. Go ahead and sign up! If you need support with electronics, reach out to senior Top Gun Ballooning members, and come out...

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23Mar

March Flying Event

We had an awesome weekend of flying! There's only one more monthly flying event until the Rio Grande Classic Balloon Competition in May. If you can't get out and fly with us before, remember you can find old task sheets on Watch Me Fly to practice on your own!

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22May

Top Gun has renewed the LOA with Albuquerque Air Traffic Control Effective March, 2025

Top Gun Balloon Club has renewed the Letter of Authorization with AATC effective March, 2025. You may become a party to this agreement by completing our LOA form and signing that you have read, understand, and will comply with the provisions of the agreement. Inclusion allows you to fly your balloon within Albuquerque Class C airspace with most communication requirements...

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23Mar

Congratulations to Top Gun’s Champion and Rookie of the Year for 2024

Congratulations to Shawn Speicher for placing first in Top Gun's Annual Points Competition. Shawn's high average of the year of 996.14 points out of 1,000 earned him the Championship for 2024. Nice job Shawn! Come down to the Balloon Museum and be sure to look for the Top Gun Annual Championship Trophy where Shawn's name will appear for the second...

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28May

Don’t Miss Balloon Industry Updates with the FAA, Wednesday May 29, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00pm, Sid Cutter Building

Pilots in the Albuquerque (ABQ) area – Please join us for an FAA Balloon Industry Update on Wednesday, May 29, from 1800-2000 local time. Stop by to hear presentations from ABQ air traffic control, the ABQ Flight Standards District Office, and the Regional Administrator’s office. Discussion topics include: ADS-B On-Airport Launch Skydiving Communication with ATC Local Class C and D Operations ...

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18Apr

Top Gun’s Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Albuquerque Air Traffic Control (AATC) Has Been Renewed for 2024-25

Top Gun's LOA with AATC has been renewed for 2024-25. The LOA is an agreement between AATC and Top Gun on behalf of its members that allows for flights within Albuquerque's Class C airspace without the requirement of an ADS-B transponder and excepts certain communication requirements to enter or operate within the Class C airspace. All Top Gun members who...

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11Apr

Congratulations Shawn Speicher First Place March

Congratulations to Shawn Speicher for placing first in Top Gun's March Flying Event. Shawn has had two great events so far this year, and he smoked the field this month scoring 4,982 out of 5,000 points available. Shawn is preparing for US Nationals in June, and I think he may be just getting warmed up! Second Place went to Keith...

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