Chapter 0099 - 442R - H Ver of SB1335

House Engrossed

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Forty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2000

HOUSE RESOLUTION 2008

A RESOLUTION

commemorating the accomplishments of kevin uliassi and his efforts to balloon around the world.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, in the tradition of courageous global expeditions, Arizona resident Kevin Uliassi recently attempted to become the first solo pilot to circle the world in a balloon. Mr. Uliassi, a thirty‑six year old Scottsdale resident with a degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, is a registered architect in Arizona. The balloon, "The J. Renee", named after Mr. Uliassi's wife, is a one hundred forty-five foot Roziere balloon made up of two nylon compartments containing hot air and helium attached to a seven foot by five foot capsule that houses the pilot. Although Mr. Uliassi was forced to end his journey prematurely, his amazing flight that lasted two hundred forty‑three hours and forty‑six minutes set several world records and constitutes the longest solo flight in any aircraft.

Whereas, numerous pre‑flight preparations had to be coordinated in the project's Arizona‑based office before The J. Renee could begin its voyage. The crew had to obtain overflight clearance from over seventy‑five countries around the world. They had to secure the cooperation of several foreign embassies, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States State Department. In preparation for flight, Mr. Uliassi spent over a month sleeping in an altitude chamber located in his Scottsdale apartment.

Whereas, the flight of The J. Renee commenced on February 22, 2000, at Nimtz Quarry in Loves Park, Illinois. The balloon headed east, across the United States. Mr. Uliassi began his crossing of the Atlantic ocean by passing over the Caribbean and, after flying for twenty-nine straight hours without sleep in order to avoid thunderstorms, was able to gaze at the stars and listen to Beethoven. On February 28, he reached the coast of Africa. Three days later, Mr. Uliassi flew into an isolated thunderstorm over the Nile River. The J. Renee had to battle snow, ice, hail and windshears for forty‑five minutes. The incident made The J. Renee only the third recorded balloon since 1840 to survive such a storm.

Whereas, after traveling more than thirteen thousand miles, The J. Renee landed in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, on March 3, 2000. The decision to land came after Mr. Uliassi experienced problems with the balloon's oxygen system as he approached the Pacific Ocean. The landing went smoothly with The J. Renee remaining intact. He received assistance from local village residents and from Balloons Over Bagan, the only balloon port in southeast Asia.

Whereas, the flight of The J. Renee did not complete its journey around the world, but ultimately it was a success in promoting and generating international goodwill. By the end of the journey, The J. Renee had crossed 13 countries, including the United States, Dominican Republic, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar and traveled approximately 13,246 miles at a maximum altitude of 32,200 feet, over a period of 10 days, 3 hours, and 46 minutes. The flight broke world records for the longest duration flight for classes AM‑13 and AM‑14 as submitted to the FAI, the international sanctioning body for air records, and for the longest duration solo flight in any aircraft and for the world duration record for a solo balloon flight, as submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records. In addition, the flight marked the highest unpressurized balloon flight without the use of a pressurized suit and Mr. Uliassi spent the longest time higher than the elevation of Mount Everest for any person in an unpressurized environment.

Whereas, the flight of The J. Renee was not only a marvel for its technical and physical achievements, but also for its ability to capture and inspire the imaginations of children and adults around the world. Throughout the journey, school children signed onto the expedition's web site conveying messages of support to the pilot and his crew. The Uliassis are still receiving letters from children around the world. The web site has received over eighteen million hits to date.

Whereas, the flight of The J. Renee was also the result of hundreds of hours of work from over one hundred volunteers, including volunteer efforts from balloonists around the country and especially from Renee Uliassi, Kevin Uliassi's wife. Shirley and Nedo Uliassi, Mr. Uliassi's parents, prepared everything from homemade chicken soup to pasta and hamburgers for their son to take on his expedition. In addition, The J. Renee received superlative assistance from meteorologist Lou Billones and his team of experts. All of these efforts culminated in the fascinating journey of The J. Renee.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona recognize that the flight of The J. Renee was an expedition that should inspire great pride within the State of Arizona. Mr. Uliassi, a resident of this state, captured the attention and admiration of the world. His courage and dedication, and that of his team, should be commended.