SBARC members,
It is with great sadness that I am writing to let our membership know of the untimely passing of a renowned and fascinating member of the Santa Barbara community.
Although Julian Nott was not a ham, he possessed the spirit of ingenuity and creativity that is so pervasive among our ranks. Julian was the founder of the modern ballooning movement. He held 79 world ballooning records and created the first hot air balloon with a pressurized cabin. In May 2017, he broke the world record for a high altitude civilian tandem skydive jumping at just under 32,000 feet. Another hot air balloon he flew to 55,000 feet is now on display in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.
Prior to his death, Julian was developing an entirely new system for ballooning in which conventional ballast was replaced with cryogenic helium, a shift that was changing the course of balloon history.
Julian died this week on Tuesday, March 26, several days after suffering multiple injuries during a ground accident following a successful balloon flight and landing in Warner Springs, California.
I came to know Julian personally through my high-altitude amateur radio balloon activities with students at Anacapa School in Santa Barbara and as a fellow aviator based out of Santa Barbara Airport. Although Julian was usually the most interesting person in the room, he was gifted at making others, particularly my students and me, feel empowered and important. It was an honor and pleasure to know him. His passing leaves a void not only in the Santa Barbara community but in the world.
Local and national media have picked up the story of his passing. For your convenience, here are a few links with more information:
Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM
Santa Barbara, Calif.